William M. Briggs

There Is No Such Thing As Unconditional Probability: Update

I am awarding a Briggs Internet Prize---the coveted BIP---for anybody who can demonstrate even one instance of a probability which is unconditional on any evidence whatsoever. The prize will not…

Culture Philosophy

California Students To Choose Genders, Bathrooms: Update

A leading academic theory is that "gender" is a construct, where by "gender" the academic means sexual behavior and by "construct" she means something we make up, a decision. If…

Philosophy

On The Probability God Exists

In order not to make the reader sick with jealously, I will not tell him that I sit on the porch on a bright summer morning mere steps away from…

Philosophy

Something From Nothing: Or, A Heavenly Fish Sandwich

So I was sitting on the porch by the lake reading a piece by Trent Horn on the first premise of the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of God,…

Fun

From Claude Shannon To Demonic Mosquitoes To Bluegill

Here's some information for you: this is a statue of Claude Shannon, tucked in-between two unfrequented buildings in tiny Gaylord, Michigan (most buildings are unfrequented here). Shannon's the guy who…

Fun

Good Gnus—PG Wodehouse Hunting Poem

A northern Michigan summer! Time to venture forth out onto the waters and kill something to eat. I'm thinking pike. Wodehouse had gnus in mind. When cares attack and life…

Fun

Happy 50th Bill & Marilyn!

We made rather merry at the party yesterday. So much so that there might not be any fresh posts for days.

Fun Statistics

Two New Dice Games: Animosity & Disdain

Summer and time for doing plenty of nothing. Like playing a rousing game of 10,000, sometimes called Farkle, Dix Mille, or "Didn't we just play that yesterday?" There are many…

Rudolph Harrier on England’s Mandatory Suicide & WomenJune 24, 2025
On women voting, it's instructive to read Bertrand Russell's responses to the anti-suffragists. He was living in the period of…
Michael Dowd on On The Probability Of GodJune 23, 2025
Thomas Aquinas: 'To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.'
On The Probability Of God – William M. Briggs on The Crybaby Fallacy (Which Atheists Often Use)June 23, 2025
[…] may have heard of “The Problem of Evil”. It’s always (so far as I’ve seen) stated incorrectly. The real…
John Pate on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 21, 2025
The inevitable AI Winter is not long coming I feel sure. The question is what will the next big piece…
rando calrissian on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 20, 2025
Its free because they want to know what you will ask the ai. And that's why most of the free…

William M. Briggs

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?

Class 53: Laplace Was Right!

Even The Woke Say Science Is Petering Out

Expert Nathan Confas: Experts Know Best

Science Claims 7% Of Adults Saw A Mass Shooting

Class 52: The Origin Of Parameters

IQ Is Not Intelligence

What Are The Chances…George Wendt Dies On Same Day Cheers Ended 32 Years Before?

Class 51: Bayes Is Only A Formula

Blacks Have Black Fatigue: Who Is At Fault?

A Reason The Birthrate Is So Low: Food

What Are The Chances…A Women Survives Cancer 4 Times To Be Killed By “Random” Bullet?