Philosophy – Page 131 – William M. Briggs

Jeffrey Sachs Saves The World

The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity by Jeffrey Sachs Says Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor at Columbia, "Economic theory indeed supports the view that high tax rates…

Philosophy Statistics

Robert Heinlein And Evolving Probabilities

Writer Stephen Dawson, a long-time participant at this blog, wrote and asked the following: In his The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein had his intelligent computer calculate the…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Are Humans As Violent As In The Good Old Days?

If we had records of massacres as we have meteorological records, don't you think we might discover their internal laws, after several centuries of observation? --- Joseph de Maistre. There…

Philosophy Statistics

The EPA, Dust, And The Ecological Fallacy

In last night's Republican debate, the candidates were asked if they could eliminate just one federal agency, which one would it be? Herman Cain chose the EPA: The first --…

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It’s No Coincidence: Rarity Is Subjective

I have in my hand---you'll have to trust me---a certain blade of grass. He is my favorite. The titling curvature of his blade can only be described as rakish, although…

Philosophy Statistics

What Is Science? Part I

Science says this, science says that. There is no more loquacious entity these days than science. What is it? Climatologists talk of the science. Physicists compliment by saying a fellow…

Philosophy Statistics

Occam’s Razor And Induction

Occam's razor: The simplest hypothesis is usually the best. Simplest is easy to understand, and non-controversial, or relatively so. Consternation creeps in with usually. Before that, first understand what is…

Culture Philosophy

Conversation With A Progressive: The British Riots

Nigel Shocking, just shocking these riots. Wouldn't you agree? David No. I'd say rather that they were expected. Nigel Too right they were. These youth were disaffected. Nothing but products…

Rudolph Harrier on On Not ReadingMarch 14, 2026
Idonotreadcomments: you are making the wrong observation from bookstores. Certainly that sort of smut is plentiful in bookstores, and this…
Nym Coy on On Not ReadingMarch 13, 2026
Might I interest you in a book? It is called Mumbai Singularity, and it is a mythic cyberpunk detective thriller…
Uncle Mike on Class 82: Be More Uncertain (About Models)March 12, 2026
The probability of significant "climate change" in equatorial Africa is very small because most climate change occurs at the poles.…
Idonotreadcomments on On Not ReadingMarch 12, 2026
First of all, you only need to visit a big chain bookstore to know that the fiction market is driven…
C-Marie on On Not ReadingMarch 12, 2026
Well, I do knpw that Malchi Martin and David McCullough were great authors.... The Final Conclave and John Adams, respectively.…