William M. Briggs

Updates: What’s Happening With Briggs? With the On-line Course? Etc.?

Homefront Things progress on the Briggs ranch---a patch of 900 square feet in the wilds of Upper Eastern Manhattan. They may shortly be progressing away from the island towards...where, nobody…

Culture

Resolved: Women In Combat Results In A Suboptimal Military: Update

Every woman soldier I've seen on TV and in the movies is just as tough as---wait, strike that---is tougher than any man. There always comes the scene where some muscle-bound…

Philosophy Statistics

Statistics Is Not Math: Update To Allow New Comments

Update Hello newcomers. Posts usually close for comments after two weeks. But since this one is getting so many views, I moved it up to re-open comments. "Here is a…

Statistics

Does Barack Obama Have A Mandate? A Look At The Numbers

How important was Barack Obama's victory? By what measure can he be said to have secured a "mandate"? How does his election compares to others? And how do voters in…

Statistics

Use And Abuses Of Decision Analysis: Global Warming Example

Suppose we have a simple decision to make1: implement a government-takeover of all energy companies, so as to regulate with thoroughness their carbon budgets, or leave these entities as they…

Statistics

A Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming Evidence

Was it only me? I thought Chicken Little dead. After all, when was the last time we heard competent authority shouting "Only the government can stop the sky from falling!"?…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Genetic Engineering To Create New Super Moral Race: Savulescu Strikes Again

On the road, so here is a classic post from not too long ago. The appalling Julian Savulescu1 is back, this time staining the pages of the British edition of…

Philosophy Statistics

A Statistician’s Lament

Regular readers (those wanting to catch up, click here) will know that the world is far too sure of itself, especially in areas which touch on human behavior, and most…

NLR on Sabine Hossenfelder’s Free Will Folly & The Deadly Sin Of ReificationJune 26, 2025
One can make an argument that the models of physics exist in the minds of physicists and the fact that…
Shack Toms on What Are The Chances Thomas Jefferson & John Adams Died On The Fourth of July, 1826?June 26, 2025
What is the probability that today is July 4, 2025? Somehow, I think this is a matter of my perspective.…
The True Nolan on Sabine Hossenfelder’s Free Will Folly & The Deadly Sin Of ReificationJune 26, 2025
"Those equations are her model of the world, and to her the model is the world. That is the Deadly…
Uncle Mike on Class 56: The Best Model!June 26, 2025
"The best model is no model! Display your data instead." Yes. Absolutely. However, easier said than done. There are lots…
fergus on Sabine Hossenfelder’s Free Will Folly & The Deadly Sin Of ReificationJune 26, 2025
So much confusion with so many strawmen thrown in that video and this discussion. First, it is a nice thing…

William M. Briggs

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?

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?

Class 56: The Best Model!

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

Updates: What’s Happening With Briggs? With the On-line Course? Etc.?

Resolved: Women In Combat Results In A Suboptimal Military: Update

Statistics Is Not Math: Update To Allow New Comments

Does Barack Obama Have A Mandate? A Look At The Numbers

Use And Abuses Of Decision Analysis: Global Warming Example

A Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming Evidence

Genetic Engineering To Create New Super Moral Race: Savulescu Strikes Again

A Statistician’s Lament

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