Evolution Quetelet and the origin of statistical and population thinking 4 Jun 2009 Adolphe Quetelet is a much overlooked figure in the history of scientific methodology: he marked that populations had distributed properties that were largely constant, even though individuals varied in ways that seemed indeterminate. He noted that hat sizes and belt sizes were constantly distributed in different samples. Will Thomas at… Read More
Epistemology Tautology 5b: The issues, continued 30 Aug 2009 In this post I will discuss these issues: 3. What is a function? Is it in the mind/theory, or in the world? 4. Is natural selection a mechanism? If so, what kind? 5. Is the principle of natural selection a law? Again, this will be pretty short. Read More
Epistemology The undergraduate effect and the gravity wells of knowledge 7 May 201122 Jun 2018 As usual, Randall Munroe nails it (although if I were playing with that metaphor, I’d say that density distorts the sheet). But I like metaphors, because unfortunately I have the mathematical ability and skills of a drunken frog. So I am going to use a metaphor as a metaphor, if… Read More
First God tells us that not only is the end of the world nigh, but also upon us, who merely creepeth on the earth. Amidst our wailing and self flagellation, pleading and protestations the end comes. The mind, the world, is blank. Only the void. Then a voice from the heavens comes down. ‘Sorry for the leaky downtime at the end of the universe – bad plug in.’ Oh torture upon torture for our sins. I think I’ll go and sit in my wardrobe for an hour or two.
This is a pity John. More than ninety comments expressing that sentiment within a few days of your announcement. Ninety is surely not “almost zero”, considering that the expectation of visitors to your blog, whether lurkers or commenters, is quality not quantity. There is a malaise abroad in Australia at the moment, at least among those of us who look further afield than the state of a footy team, brought on by the antics of our elected representatives. A general feeling of anger and alienation. I think that this is true, whether you lean to the right or left and I am sure philosophers are not immune. I hope you will reconsider when things improve.