How to do numerical taxonomy 9 Oct 20219 Oct 2021 Hint: use only original IBM punch cards From Sokal and Sneath 1963 Philosophy Systematics
Epistemology Affirming the consequent and doing science and history 3 Jan 20123 Jan 2012 Here’s a conundrum for the simple minded: One of the classic fallacies is the fallacy of affirming the consequent: If P then Q, Q, therefore P It’s an obvious logical fallacy because there might be many reasons for Q. And yet, all science rests on doing just that. Suppose I… Read More
Philosophy 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 Read More
Freedom The problem with logic 19 Jan 201420 Jan 2014 When teaching students critical reasoning it is an article of faith that we should teach them logic. Of course, we ameliorate any benefit this might have by teaching it incomprehensibly and in artificial cases. But still, we believe logic is what is most important in philosophy and in culture generally…. Read More