Philosophy – Page 131 – William M. Briggs

Jeffrey Sachs Saves The World

The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity by Jeffrey Sachs Says Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor at Columbia, "Economic theory indeed supports the view that high tax rates…

Philosophy Statistics

Robert Heinlein And Evolving Probabilities

Writer Stephen Dawson, a long-time participant at this blog, wrote and asked the following: In his The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein had his intelligent computer calculate the…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Are Humans As Violent As In The Good Old Days?

If we had records of massacres as we have meteorological records, don't you think we might discover their internal laws, after several centuries of observation? --- Joseph de Maistre. There…

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The EPA, Dust, And The Ecological Fallacy

In last night's Republican debate, the candidates were asked if they could eliminate just one federal agency, which one would it be? Herman Cain chose the EPA: The first --…

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It’s No Coincidence: Rarity Is Subjective

I have in my hand---you'll have to trust me---a certain blade of grass. He is my favorite. The titling curvature of his blade can only be described as rakish, although…

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What Is Science? Part I

Science says this, science says that. There is no more loquacious entity these days than science. What is it? Climatologists talk of the science. Physicists compliment by saying a fellow…

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Occam’s Razor And Induction

Occam's razor: The simplest hypothesis is usually the best. Simplest is easy to understand, and non-controversial, or relatively so. Consternation creeps in with usually. Before that, first understand what is…

Culture Philosophy

Conversation With A Progressive: The British Riots

Nigel Shocking, just shocking these riots. Wouldn't you agree? David No. I'd say rather that they were expected. Nigel Too right they were. These youth were disaffected. Nothing but products…

gareth on UFO Hits United Flight. All Survive. This Time!October 29, 2025
Given that a met balloon had been released shortly before the impact (and NOTAMed) and that it stopped transmitting at…
Uncle Mike on Last Call For Alcohol-Cancer PapersOctober 29, 2025
Thinking about this sort of crapastrophe of logic and the time and money wasted can drive a sane person to…
Zundfolge on Last Call For Alcohol-Cancer PapersOctober 29, 2025
So yet again, every scientific study comes down to the REAL universal constant; E=F&G.
Mike Borgelt on UFO Hits United Flight. All Survive. This Time!October 28, 2025
Very roughly 250 knots indicated airspeed is about 1.5 psi pitot pressure. This is about the indicated airspeed of an…
spetzer86 on Changes Are Coming: Our Return to 1970sOctober 28, 2025
In college during the 70's, it would get cold enough to freeze the Iowa river that passed through the UofI…