William M. Briggs

It Is Irrational to Believe in Science

This article only begins the subject; it does not end it. Atheists, beware the So’s-Your-Old-Man Fallacy. Belief in the absence of evidence is irrational. There is no evidence for believing…

Culture Statistics

Stop Teaching Frequentism; More On That “Altruism” Study; Etc.

Freq Out Reader ECM points us to "The Great Statistical Schism", by a fellow named Brendon Brewer who "is a senior lecturer in the Department of Statistics in Auckland." Brewer…

Statistics

Stream: Threat Of Global Warming Causes Terrorism

Today's post is at The Stream: Our Leaders Have Spoken: Global Warming Causes Terrorism. So global warming caused ISIS to dispatch a team of bloodthirsty satanic malevolent maniacs to Paris…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Moral Virtues & God

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. All posts are under the category SAMT. Previous post. Thomas doesn't…

Culture

This Week In Doom: Paris Open Thread (And Mizzou Tie In?)

Allahu Akbar Those who refuse to say "This is true" must fall to those who will. Hey, Paris, how's that assimilation thing going for you? Come to think of it,…

Culture

Armed Students Take Over Cornell University

A group of militant black students at Cornell "occupied" Willard Straight Hall. They were armed with shotguns and other firearms with which they threatened violence. Why? To protest Cornell's "racist…

Culture

Stream: The Joys of Divesting from Reality (And Not Just Oil)

Okay, sisters and brothers, only a handful of folks clicked over to the National Association of Scholars to read their must-read (but not-yet-read) report Inside Divestment: The Illiberal Movement to…

Statistics

When Colleges Divest, Who Wins? Hint: Not The Colleges

I don't normally do this, but it's a special occasions. Here's a press release from the National Association of Scholars announcing the release of their report Inside Divestment: The Illiberal…

Cary D Cotterman on Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”May 20, 2026
There are clear photographs of just about any phenomenon imaginable, regardless of how fast, distant, small, or ephemeral it may…
Steve on Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”May 20, 2026
Briggs, you fool! You should know by now that extraterrestrials have image blurring technology. And before you ask, yes, they…
McChuck on Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”May 20, 2026
"Tomorrow Tomorrow never comes What kind of a fool Do they take me for? Tomorrow A resting place for bums…
Philip Rogan on Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”May 20, 2026
All I can say after reading the linked article is that I'm glad I'm not a professional academic philosopher.
Brian (bulaoren) on Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”May 20, 2026
If a space-alien ever confronts me, and says "Take me to your leader", I will direct him (they?) to you.

William M. Briggs

Blessed Memorial Day; No Class; See You Wednesday

Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”

Creating Microbial Monsters To Terrorize Ourselves

Class 89: The Measure Most Modelers Forget: Skill Examples

The Shocking Conclusion of the HR Trilemma!

The HR Trilemma: Which Door Decides Your Fate?

Capital Punishment Deters Crime More Than The Death Penalty

How Experts Use “Calamities” to Find Official Victims & Gain Power

Richard Dawkins, The Big Muscles Fallacy & AI Pachinko

Class 88: The Most Neglected Concept: Skill

The Red-Blue Button Dilemma & Its Surprising Answer

UFO Reports About To Blast Off!

Class 87: Calibration & Conformal Prediction: Examples

Noticing Differences Between Races Does Not Pay

What Are The Chances Of All These Scientists Dying, Killed, Or Going Missing?

Class 86: Calibration & Conformal Prediction: Theory

How A Miracle Turns Mundane

Contest Winner Announced!

Trump’s Last Stand: Mea Culpa, Redux — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

Class 85: Proper Scores of Model Goodness

Proof!

Blessed Memorial Day; No Class; See You Wednesday

Why There Are (Probably) No UFOs: “Climate Change”

It Is Irrational to Believe in Science

Stop Teaching Frequentism; More On That “Altruism” Study; Etc.

Stream: Threat Of Global Warming Causes Terrorism

Summary Against Modern Thought: Moral Virtues & God

This Week In Doom: Paris Open Thread (And Mizzou Tie In?)

Armed Students Take Over Cornell University

Stream: The Joys of Divesting from Reality (And Not Just Oil)

When Colleges Divest, Who Wins? Hint: Not The Colleges

There Is No Culture Without Inequality: Stove 1

Impose Your Beliefs Before They Impose Theirs

Telekinesis: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification

The Physics Of Blessings: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification