William M. Briggs

Infinity & Probability: A Return To The Finite

There is a discussion of infinity and an argument to return to the discrete and finite in my upcoming book Uncertainty: The Soul of Modeling, Probability & Statistics. Infinity is…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Matter Doesn’t Always Matter

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. All posts are under the category SAMT. Previous post. Just a…

Culture

Facebook All Video: The Disappearance Of Words

I was, like, I can't even. I mean, it's like something isn't right. I feel, like, it isn't right? Like, removing, like, words? It's so, like, strange. I was all,…

Philosophy

Real Philosophy Is Science — Guest Post by Old David

Editor's note: Old David, a.k.a. David Marwick from Australia, is familiar from the comment pages, and I thought it would be fun if he were on the receiving end of…

Philosophy

Are We Special? New Thoughts about the Anthropic Principle — Guest Post by Bob Kurland

Editor's note This post first appeared at Kurland's home site. My criticisms follow. "Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth - the universe looks suspiciously like a fix.…

Fun

Teaching: No Post, No Podcast, But One Book

Tried to do it, but ran out of time. Not only is there the teaching, and the radio shows, and the eating, and the talking too much, but there is…

Philosophy Statistics

The I-Have-Big-Muscles Fallacy

Harvard graduate walks down the street where a 50-lb sack of cement blocks his way. He reaches down to shift it but discovers that despite all his might the bulk…

Culture

Orlando Shooting — Open Thread

Today is the first day of class; I originally had another post scheduled, but since I thought readers would like to discuss recent events, and I haven't had time to…

Scott Locklin on Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?July 14, 2025
Well I could mention nutrition and exercise science. Also drug discovery. I'm not sure statins actually help anybody, but I…
Sigmund Fraud on Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?July 14, 2025
Psychology followed closely by Sociology. They are pretty neck and neck for the top sketchy positions.
hudbwu on Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?July 14, 2025
Recently, I was interested in religious observance in Europe, both west and east. It's surprisingly difficult to find good numbers…
Dan Kurt on Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?July 14, 2025
Astronomy/Astro-Physics: * Red Shift as a distance analogue * Black Holes * Gravity Waves * Gravity controlling the structure of…
Phil R on Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?July 14, 2025
I'm neither a mathematician or a statistician, although I have a degree in science (geology) and regularly work with numbers…

William M. Briggs

Reader Opinion Requested: What Science Do You Find Sketchy, Exaggerated Or Wrong?

Class 57: The Second Best Model

Don’t Lose Sleep Over Research On “Climate Change” & Sleep Apnea

What’s Wrong With The Golf Course Parkinson’s Study

The Unseen Bias In All Science

The Sad End Of Radio

Let’s Play A Game Of Let’s Suppose!

Test Your IQ With These Puzzles! (Not So Easy!)

How Can You Tell If You Have ESP?

Class 56: The Best Model!

Sabine Hossenfelder’s Free Will Folly & The Deadly Sin Of Reification

England’s Mandatory Suicide & Women

On The Probability Of God

Class 55: Models Vs Reality

AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded Output

The Hubris Of Experts: NIH Edition

The Mathematics Of Conspiracy Theories. Part 1: Black Eye Club Example

Class 54: Exchangeability & Parameters

Over-Certainty Of Polygenic Scores

AI & The Dilemma Of Technology

What Are The Chances Thomas Jefferson & John Adams Died On The Fourth of July, 1826?