Farr on MRI 3 Aug 2009 Introducing an irregular series of quotes that catch my eye: Noise is principally due to the presence of the patient. [R. F. Farr] HT Omri Schwartz Philosophy Quotes Quotes
Evolution Gods above 6 Jul 200922 Jun 2018 It’s no real coincidence that the standard metaphor for approaching gods is one of height. Humans not only defer to those who are “above” them in the social hierarchy, they also tend to defer to people who are literally taller than they are. Taller individuals tend to have higher status… Read More
Epistemology Fishing for philosophy 11 May 2010 Okay, so my last response on Jesus as a philosopher didn’t satisfy Chris Schoen, but then nobody, least of all me or him, thought that I was going to be able to. But I find some interesting misunderstandings. Since the onus for communication lies with the communicator, this is clearly… Read More
Epistemology Dynamics and classification redux 7 Aug 2010 In my last two posts in this series, I suggested that science is a field of possible moments, with no set trajectory over what I called the “dance floor of science”. Some commentators have objected to this, arguing that there is no real difference between classification and theory building. I… Read More
That reminds me of a Monty Python skit, where John Cleese and others are doctors. John Cleese runs through the checklist – all the equipment is there, anaesthetist present, assistant present, students, nurses present. “Something missing, something missing……..O yes, ………..patient!” Later, the parturient patient says something and is rebuffed – “You’re NOT QUALIFIED!”
It’s even better. She’s giving birth, and asks the doctor, “What do I do?” and Chapman replies, as the supercilious doctor, “Nothing, dear. You’re not qualified“. And you forgot the machine that goes ping!