24 DEC 2013 by ideonexus

 Science Should Settle Policy

The most important scientific concept is that an assertion is often an empirical question, settled by collecting evidence. The plural of anecdote is not data, and the plural of opinion is not facts. Quality peer-reviewed scientific evidence accumulates into knowledge. People’s stories are stories, and fiction keeps us going. But science should settle policy.
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Susan Fiske on the truth of assertions and opinions as being testable.

16 DEC 2011 by ideonexus

 The Temperament of the Mathematician

It may be observed of mathematicians that they only meddle with such things as are certain, passing by those that are doubtful and unknown. They profess not to know all things, neither do they affect to speak of all things. What they know to be true, and can make good by invincible arguments, that they publish and insert among their theorems. Of other things they are silent and pass no judgment at all, chusing [choosing] rather to acknowledge their ignorance, than affirm anything rashly. They...
Folksonomies: mathematics
Folksonomies: mathematics
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Always to acknowledge their ignorance and only indulge in those pursuits in which total certainty may be achieved.

25 JUL 2011 by ideonexus

 If You Wish To Contradict Bacon's Assertions, Please Use ...

I have on my own part made it my care and study that the things which I shall propound should not only be true, but should also be presented to men's minds, how strangely soever preoccupied and obstructed, in a manner not harsh or unpleasant. It is but reasonable, however (especially in so great a restoration of learning and knowledge), that I should claim of men one favor in return, which is this: if anyone would form an opinion or judgment either out of his own observation, or out of the cr...
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Use experiments, use tests, and observance of nature to formulate your arguments.