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A Guide To Deduction
A Guide To Deduction
In any Sherlock Holmes novel you read, or any interpretation you watch, Sherlock
Holmes is always able to pull off amazing feats with his abilities to deduce. He is always able to
study a person, and read their history as if it was written out in a book, getting it right 98% of the
time. In A Study in Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes wrote an article that talks about deduction, and
how it is used. He calls deduction a science. He also talks about the correct ways to use it, and
the steps you use to identify and deduce everything about a person. In ‘Sherlock’, the BBC
series, Sherlock made a website called, ‘The Science of Deduction’, where he mostly explains
everything about a person’s deduction skills, and how it can be mastered. In both the tv series
and the novels, John highly doubts Sherlock’s knowledge, and his statement that ‘Deduction is a
science’.
Sadly, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character. There is no article online that can
correctly define what went on in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s head when he thought up the article
that Sherlock wrote. People will never know the correct way to deduce, and how deduction is a
science.
Luckily for you, I’ve looked into deducing for a long time. I do even have some minor
deduction skills. While I might not be Sherlock Holmes, I decided to make this essay for anyone
who wants to read it. Welcome to, ‘A Guide to Deduction: Deducing Down to a Science’.
Now, before I start anything, let me tell you a few things. Deduction is different
depending on the person. Each person has their strengths, and each person has their
weaknesses. So if you find something like, figuring out what a person did the night before is
easy, but yet find deducing a person’s current emotion impossible, don’t worry. Don’t try and
compare yourself to Sherlock, because like I said before, he’s fictional. He’s supposed to be
extraordinary. Just do your best, and you will be able to deduce in no time, my friend!
Rule of Deduction
Now, before you start anything that has to do with deduction, you must know the rules.
There aren’t many, but they are important.
1. You see, but you don’t observe: Meaning, most people look around them, and take notice.
What they don’t use is their observation skills. For example, if I showed you a picture for 20
seconds, and you just saw it, you could maybe remember 4 or 5 things. If you observed the
picture, the number would be closer to 15 or 20 things. You look at something more in detail
when you observe. Another example would be from another Sherlock Holmes story. I will always
remember this, and I find it amazing that I haven’t forgotten why it's stored in my brain. When
Watson doesn’t understand how Sherlock observes, Holmes breaks it down for him. He asks
John how many times he has walked up the steps to Baker Street. Watson says he walked up
the stairs many times, and he can remember where each step is. But when Sherlock asks
Watson how many steps there are, Watson doesn’t know, because he’s seen the steps, but
never observed them. Sherlock then tells Watson “There are 17 steps. You see, I don’t just see,
I observe.” (I think I misquoted. I apologize if I did). So when it comes to everything, don’t just
look for the exact detail (although you should, that helps a lot too) but also look for the more
obvious signs, like a grass stain, or calloused fingers.
2. It Takes Time: If you don’t master deductions in one day, don’t fret. Seriously, don’t. I hate
comparing deductions to Sherlock, being he was such an iconic character, but just this once I
will. He started to deduce when he was about 16. That is why by A Study in Scarlet he is so
good at deductions, because he practiced everyday, for over 25 years. I’ve been deducing since
I was 15, and I’m still bloody rubbish 1 year later, but yet, I practice everyday. Doing deductions
is like doing any other sport. You must do some stretches with your brain, and you must practice
every day, only I prefer you practice maybe for 2 hours when you just start, and expand from
there. Remember, it’s not a skill you acquire overnight, and it’s not something you can decide to
do whenever you feel like it. Unless you are advanced. Like 12 years practicing advance. I
mean, if Sherlock can’t turn it off and on like a faucet, then I doubt you can too.
3. Checking it Once, Checking it Twice: Take in everything before you start to think. If all you
see is the person’s face, and then you start to make deductions, I can promise you that you will
most likely get your deductions wrong. You must take EVERYTHING into account before you
deduce. It is a big task, I know, but once you get used to it, it’s like second nature.
4. Baby, I Was Born this Way: Learn people’s specific quirks, and the way they tick. You can see
that I deduce, but I can only guess because I’ve talked to the people before and I know the way
they write, and how they act. Every single person you meet is unique, and they will react
differently to different things. Do this: ask two people to come with you, and bring a rubber ball
(preferably soft, so if it hits them in the face, they won’t sue you for face replacement surgery)
with you. Ask them to stand right next to each other. First, fake a throw. You will see one might
flinch, while the other won’t. Or both can flinch, or neither. Now throw the ball into the middle of
them, and watch their body posture and how they follow the ball. Thirdly, toss the ball lightly to
each one of them. You will notice they both catch it a different way, and react to how they catch
it differently. Finally, chuck the ball at them and see how they react. Maybe they might not be
able to catch the ball, maybe they will. Take notice. You will see that the two people each
reacted differently to the stimuli you gave them.
5. Let Them Hate Me, as Long as They Fear Me: People won’t like you. I can tell you that now.
People might think it’s weird, not normal, freaky, or just plain rude that you can figure out how
they feel without them telling you. Don’t take it personally. That’s all I can say on this one. Just
don’t. You’ll feel better if you just let their hate roll off you. They’ll have to learn to respect you at
one point.
Well, that’s all I can say about deductions that I can think of. I would love to write a book about
deduction, but I’m just too lazy, so this essay will have to do. I do hope that this helps you guys
out in the future, and when you guys are able to apply what was taught to you, please
remember me. I might not be a famous author, philosopher or professor, but I do help what I
taught here could be used later on in life. And remember this: While you might not be Sherlock
Holmes, you are your own person with wonderful skills, so use them, and don’t let anyone bring
you down.