Statistics – Page 225 – William M. Briggs

Good Ways Of Speaking About Truth

"Quid est veritas?" Pilate asked. Famously, his interlocutor did not answer, perhaps because Pilate didn't give Him the chance. Then Pilate may have been (understandably) addled because the Answer was…

Philosophy Statistics

Bad Ways Of Speaking About Truth

Easy It is true that all men are mortal. It is also true that 2 + 3 = 5. Yet it is not "true" that all men are mortal, nor…

Statistics

Regression To The Mean (And Performance Curses) Simply Explained

I've just read about The Second Term Curse which supposedly besets (of course) second-term presidents. There is also the infamous Sports Illustrated Curse, which is said to befall athletes soon…

Statistics

Sam Harris Asks, “Can Science Answer Moral Questions?” No, Sam, It Cannot

I was having a back-and-forth on Twitter with Craig Mazin â€(@clmazin) about Sam Harris's claim that morality is a scientific and not a metaphysical question. As evidence, Mazin pointed me…

Culture Statistics

The Horrors And Hurt Feelings Of Profiling

"Ver are your papers!" "Um. Hang on. I'm sure I have them on me. Wait. Here," said the man, handing them over. The clerk examined them closely. He arched his…

Philosophy Statistics

Life Isn’t Fair: Part III

We are at the position where somebody thinks a rule, law, or stricture, or the lack of the same, is fair or unfair. The justification for this belief must (eventually)…

Statistics

Supreme Court And Proposition 8: A Few Thoughts

One of the more curious tidbits to arise out of yesterday's oral arguments (pdf) over California's Prop 8 was that that state's constitution has been amended some 500 times. Those…

Culture Statistics

The Regnerus Controversy: Children In Traditional Families Do Better Than Those Raised In Non-Traditional Settings

Originally published 24 July 2012. No changes have been made, though I'm sorely tempted to comment on the weeds descending from Regnerus's chin. Doubtless the nastiest phenomenon in nature is…

Brian (bulaoren) on Merry Christmas!December 25, 2025
Merry Christmas to you Dr. Briggs, and to all ye faithful (readers). A couple of days ago, I found myself…
Tars Tarkas on Merry Christmas!December 25, 2025
Merry Christmas Mr Briggs. Thanks for all the essays this year.
McChuck on Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By ScienceDecember 25, 2025
Merry Christmas! "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
Cary D Cotterman on Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By ScienceDecember 24, 2025
A quarter-inch-drive ratchet with a set of sockets doesn't answer any moral and ethical questions, but it's damned useful. Merry…
Uncle Mike on Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By ScienceDecember 24, 2025
Christmas is another question Science has no explanation for. Joy and peace to you and yours.