Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: Wolf Kirchmeir (wwolfkir_at_sympatico.ca)
Date: 02/25/05 

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 20:45:59 -0500

Albert wrote:
> robert j. kolker wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Albert wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Oh, yes. 'Good approximations' have given us 3.57 uncracked eggs,
>>> partial pregnancies, 2.5 children, and modern economics.
>>
>>
>>
>> Those are -averages-, not approximations.
>
>
> I fail to see the difference.

Nevertheless, the difference is real, and has practical consequences (as
does the stupid use of averages, as you so kindly pointed out.)

All measurements are approximations, because all measurements are more
or less erroneous. Averages are calculated numbers, not a measured onea.

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