William M. Briggs

The Corporatization of the University: Part II — Guest Post By Agnes Larson

Agnes Larson is a long-time university insider. This article is Part II of a three-part series. Read Part I, Part III Layoffs and Workforce Planning A time-honored corporate method of…

Culture

The Corporatization of the University: Part I — Guest Post By Agnes Larson

Agnes Larson is a long-time university insider. This article is Part I of a three-part series. Read Part II, Part III Background As early as 1918 Thorstein Veblen bemoaned the…

Statistics

How To Cheat With Graphics: Paul Krugman Style

Thanks to reader Doug Magowan for bringing this to our attention. In his New York Times blog "The Conscience of a Liberal", the far-left economist Paul Krugman presented these graphs…

Philosophy Statistics

The Dismal Economics of Utopia: Lesson One

This originally appeared in Pajamas Media. I thought it was a natural follow-up to yesterday's post about the odd economic situation in France. The content below has been edited, but…

Culture Statistics

France Strikes Over Increasing Retirement Age: The Meta-Economics of Success

France is into its third or fourth day of striking over President Nicolas Sarkozy's bold plan to increase the retirement age from 60 to a whopping 62. Of course, striking…

Statistics

Why So Many (Medical) Studies Based On Statistics Are Wrong

This was inspired by the (unfortunately titled) article Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science, publishing in this month's Atlantic (thanks A&LD!). The article profiles the work of John Ioannidis, who…

Culture

Helping Student Athletes Pass College

OK, choir, we sung this tune before, but here again is Maestro Bierce from his Devil's Dictionary Songbook: ACADEME, n. An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. ACADEMY,…

Fun Statistics

Are My Classes Too Hard?

My exams are scheduled for this Thursday and Friday and suddenly---quite, quite suddenly---my office hours are filled with activity. In a hurry today. Perhaps you, my dear readers, can help…

Johnno on Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”October 14, 2025
Fatima is believed not only for the weight of evidence in it's favor (it was also testfied to by hardened…
Lucy Tucker on Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”October 14, 2025
Scidolator. I like it.
Cary Cotterman on Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”October 14, 2025
Brad, I tend to fear, based on what I've been told by the religious, as well as what's in the…
brad.tittle on Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”October 14, 2025
Science gives me all kinds of faith. When a leaf falls, the physics gives me a rough idea of what…
brad.tittle on Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”October 14, 2025
This atheist is where he is largely because the term atheist keeps the religious zealots at bay. The proprietor of…

William M. Briggs

Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”

Good Vs Bad Science (Models) & How You Can Tell The Difference: Think Twice Science

Class 68: The Philosophy Of Models (Regression): The WRONG Way

The Lancet’s New Push To Ban Meat

‘Termination Shock’: Newest Entry In Science Doom Naming Contest

Changing Clocks In Fall Will Stroke You Out, Fatty: Research

Class 67: The Philosophy Of Models (Regression): The Right Way

Big Things Are Happening With Celebrities, The Pope & “Climate Change”!

The Main Barrier To Reproduction Is Ideas

How You Helped Academics Justify Sex With Children

Class 66: The Difference Between Uncertainty and Decision

Autism & Tylenol

The Charlie Kirk Killing Theories: The (Non)-Mathematics Of Conspiracy Theories 2

In Which I Shockingly Agree With Sabine That Most Science Is Of Little Or No Value

Class 65: A Last Plea Never To Use Or Trust Statistical Evidence Like This

Lacent’s Vaccination Model Says What Its Told To Say

Chinese Scientists Pull Off Hilarious “Climate Change” Troll?

On The Myths Of Scientism

Use The Tools The Left Created Against Them

The Various Solutions To Black Crime Analyzed

The False Expectation Of Permanence