“At a purely formal level, one could call probability theory the study of measure spaces with total measure one, but that would be like calling number theory the study of strings of digits which terminate.” Would BeSpaceLevelsNumbersStudyTheoryCallingStringsFormalProbabilityProbability Theory Book:Topics in Random Matrix Theory Source: Topics in Random Matrix Theory
“If a lack of empirical foundations is a defect of the theory of logical probability, it is also a defect of deductive logic.” IfsTheoryLogicFoundationLogicalProbabilityDefects Author:David Stove
“Following Korzybski, I put things in probabilities, not absolutes... My only originality lies in applying this zetetic attitude outside the hardest of the hard sciences, physics, to softer sciences and then to non-sciences like politics, ideology, jury verdicts and, of course, conspiracy theory.” HardLyingCoursesAttitudeTheoryAbsolutesFollowingPhysicsHardestIdeologyConspiracyOriginalityProbabilityJuryConspiracy TheoryVerdictScience Physics Author:Robert Anton Wilson
“I am now about to set seriously to work upon preparing for the press an account of my theory of Logic and Probabilities which in its present state I look upon as the most valuable if not the only valuable contribution that I have made or am likely to make to Science and the thing by which I would desire if at all to be remembered hereafter.” IfsLooksMadeStatesDesireTheoryLogicAccountsPressesValuableRememberedContributionLook UpPreparingProbabilityHereafter Author:George Boole
“I am fully assured, that no general method for the solution of questions in the theory of probabilities can be established which does not explicitly recognize, not only the special numerical bases of the science, but also those universal laws of thought which are the basis of all reasoning, and which, whatever they may be as to their essence, are at least mathematical as to their form.” MayDoeFormLawSpecialTheorySolutionsEssenceUniversalBasesMethodMathematicalReasoningProbabilityAssuredUniversal Laws Book:Collected Logical Works Source: Collected Logical Works
“We come finally, however, to the relation of the ideal theory to real world, or "real" probability. If he is consistent a man of the mathematical school washes his hands of applications. To someone who wants them he would say that the ideal system runs parallel to the usual theory: "If this is what you want, try it: it is not my business to justify application of the system; that can only be done by philosophizing; I am a mathematician". In practice he is apt to say: "try this; if it works that will justify it".” IfsMenWorldWantTryingRealDoneHandsRunningSchoolPracticeTheoryIdealsRelationMathematicsMathWhat You WantMathematicalConsistentJustifyReal WorldApplicationUsualMathematicianProbabilityParallels Author:John Edensor Littlewood
“An aphorism is an extreme synthesis of thesis and antithesis, theory and practice, it's a mixture of intuition and observation, hypothesis and illusions of certainty and probability, history and stupidity.” PracticeTheoryIllusionExtremesIntuitionStupidityObservationCertaintyAphorismProbabilityHypothesisMixturesThesisSynthesisAntithesisTheory And Practice Author:William C. Brown
“Science fiction - and the correct shortcut is 'sf' - uses actual scientific facts or theories for the source ideas or framework of the story. It has some scientific content, however speculative. If it breaks a law of physics, it knows it's doing so and follows up the consequences. If it invents a society of aliens, it does so with some respect for and knowledge of the social sciences and what you might call social probabilities. And some of it is literarily self-aware enough to treat its metaphors as metaphors.” IfsKnowsDoeIdeasSelfEnoughFactsStoriesUseMightLawSocialFictionBreakTheorySourceConsequenceTreatsScience FictionMetaphorPhysicsAliensProbabilityFrameworkShortcutsSocial ScienceLaws Of PhysicsScientific FactsFollow Up Author:Ursula K. Le Guin
“You know that, according to quantum theory, if two particles collide with enough energy you can, in principle, with an infinitesimal probability, produce two grand pianos.” IfsKnowsTwoEnoughEnergyPrinciplesProduceTheoryPianoQuantumProbabilityParticlesQuantum TheoryCollide Author:Isidor Isaac Rabi
“General relativity is in the old Newtonian framework where you predict what will happen, not the probability of what will happen. And putting together the probabilities of quantum mechanics with the certainty of general relativity, that's been the big challenge and that's why we have been excited about string theory, as it's one of the only approaches that can put it together.” Has BeensBigsHappensTogetherChallengesTheoryApproachExcitedCertaintyStringsQuantumProbabilityMechanicFrameworkRelativityQuantum MechanicsBig ChallengesString TheoryGeneral Relativity Author:Brian Greene
“Earlier attempts to show that simpler theories always have higher prior probabilities have failed, but there is a restricted circumstance in which the claim is right.” ShowsTheoryHigherCircumstancesClaimsProbability Author:Elliott Sober