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 Arseholes! Systematics, phylogenetics and HPS 10 Feb 2011 There’s been some developments this day. First of all a defunct blog on history and philosophy of science has revived with a new skin and as a group blog: AmericanScience: A Team Blog. I keep wanting to say “F&*k yeah!” It used to be the Forum for the History of… Read More
Epistemology Evolution Quotes: Twain on inference about the past 3 Apr 20123 Apr 2012 Now, if I wanted to be one of those ponderous scientific people, and “let on” to prove what had occurred in the remote past by what had occurred in a given time in the recent past, or what will occur in the far future by what has occurred in late… Read More
Epistemology Metaphysical determinism 20 May 201227 Aug 2012 There is a hypothesis called the Sapir-Whorf Thesis (also known as linguistic relativity) in language that one can only think what one’s language permits you to think, and indeed forces you to think. This idea that some conceptual scheme can determine how you think is widely held. It appears again… 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!