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…

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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…

Edward on Lying Increases Trust In Science, Says AcademicAugust 24, 2025
What really concerns me most is the pedantic feeling that “solutions” to problems aren’t what we mean. The way I…
Rudolph Harrier on Class 62: Die P-value, Die! Die! Die!August 23, 2025
P-values enable a lot of shenanigans, and they are dangerous because most of their "honest" users trust them too much…
John Pate on Class 62: Die P-value, Die! Die! Die!August 22, 2025
...and another thing: in Fisher's works first understanding the distribution of what you're measuring in population you are sampling from…
JH on Class 62: Die P-value, Die! Die! Die!August 22, 2025
Since your definition of p-values is not entirely correct, FYI - understanding p-values and different meanings of p-value
John Pate on Class 62: Die P-value, Die! Die! Die!August 22, 2025
To be fair to R.A. Fisher he warned people were over-enthusiastic about applying the tools he provided. He wasn't as…