This article looks at the function of the day release scheme in vocational general practice training. It reviews past suggestions and points out the competition that there has been between the science and the art of medicine for generations. It goes on to suggest which of these two functions of medicine should now receive priority at this stage of the trainee's career. It makes a statement about the definition of progress and suggests ways for such progress now to be achieved by the trainee. The idea of progress for the trainee is now linked to the idea of the‘historical method’for advancing the consultation. It goes on to state the origin of this historical method and its place in the philosophy of the day release scheme and therefore in the philosophy of the trainee's future methods of practice. While accepting that all day release schemes may and indeed should vary in their raison d'etre they also must have an underlying philosophy if they are not to become haphazard in their direction.Unless there is an underlying philosophy to the course organiser's approach to the day release course it will remain haphazard in function and content. One's views on whether medicine is primarily a science or an art will affect one's philosophy to this stage of the trainee's education.