William M. Briggs

Teaching Comes First. But Only If You Bring In Grants. And Publish

Since it's teaching time, via Nick B Steves via Bruce Charlton comes this reminiscence of Oxford in the 1970s. In the 70s it was still possible for a distinguished head…

Philosophy Statistics

The Deadly Sin Of Reification! Day Three

Zeno Phobia Counting day. How many ways can you skin a cat if the number of sharp versus dull knives is this and such. Simple stuff, easy to get the…

Philosophy Statistics

Tautology Tautology: Day Two Teaching

Since probability is the completion---we do not say "branch"---of logic, and logic is the science of the relations between propositions, probability is also the study of the relations between propositions.…

Philosophy Statistics

I Was Wrong About Axioms: Day One Teaching

I was wrong about how belief in axioms are held. I was not wrong about the beliefs themselves, which is to say, the axioms which we all know and love…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: First Steps In The Scientific Proof Of God

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. Previous post. We have reached at long last the happiest part…

Fun

The Joy Of Unknowns In World Cup; Updates

Slaughterhouse Five Five brave individuals, strong and true, have thus far ponied up to be killed off in one of my award-eligible Mini Plays. Strike that: four deaths and one…

Culture

On What’s Behind The Notes In Music

As (then) Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen said1: [I]t is impossible to have any kind of evolution [change] without something that evolves or a change without permanence...It is no escape from…

Statistics

Democrats Received 42% More Donations Than Republicans, Even Including Koch Brothers

Open Secrets tracks donations made to political parties in the States, a difficult thing to do, particularly since Americans can give in many different ways. Press reports on money are…

McChuck on Happy New Year!January 1, 2026
Happy New Year! May your health and finances be stable or improving.
Johnno on Why The Drake Equation FailsJanuary 1, 2026
The Drake Equation, like Da Theory of da Evolution, and Relativity Math-a-Magics with Time-pretzel-balloons, all exist to keep Atheism afloat…
Johnno on How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?December 31, 2025
I was right about the right! Conservative estimating does work! Always aim for mediocrity! The formula for success! Or at…
John Pate on Why The Drake Equation FailsDecember 31, 2025
Seems to me the obvious reason for the state of the world as we see it is that aliens are…
Zundfolge on How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?December 31, 2025
Wow, I have never been as far off as I was this last year. I'll have to give some thought…

William M. Briggs

Happy New Year!

How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?

Why The Drake Equation Fails

Canada Invents New Euphemism For Doctor Killings

Merry Christmas!

Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By Science

Why British & EU Rulers Are Juicing War With Russia

Climate Models

Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?

No Class: But Here’s Some Homework

On The Form Of Species: ‘Dance To The Tune Of Life’ by Denis Noble Reviewed

How To Tell How Much Of “IQ” Is Inherited & How Much Is Environment

Class 74: Contra Effect Sizes

Academic Argues For Permissibility of Cannibalism, You Racist

I Finally Read James Lindsay’s Manifesto (Yes, He Has A Manifesto)

The Biggest Mistake In Science Applied To Universe As Simulation

Class 73: How To Tell If You Have Bad Dice

Academic Proposes Mushrooms To Avoid Compulsory Moral Bioenhancement

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kids

The Perfect Conspiracy Theory

Old Lodge Skins’ Prayer Of Thanksgiving

Happy New Year!

How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?

Teaching Comes First. But Only If You Bring In Grants. And Publish

The Deadly Sin Of Reification! Day Three

Tautology Tautology: Day Two Teaching

I Was Wrong About Axioms: Day One Teaching

Summary Against Modern Thought: First Steps In The Scientific Proof Of God

The Joy Of Unknowns In World Cup; Updates

On What’s Behind The Notes In Music

Democrats Received 42% More Donations Than Republicans, Even Including Koch Brothers

There Is No Culture Without Inequality: Stove 1

Impose Your Beliefs Before They Impose Theirs

Telekinesis: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification

The Physics Of Blessings: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification