RE: Small probabilities

I fully agree with you with the abstract concepts used in mathematics.
However, if we want to use probability as logic when doing science, then
experiments is all that matters.

Moorad

________________________________

From: Don Winterstein [mailto:dfwinterstein@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 9:08 AM
To: asa@lists.calvin.edu; Alexanian, Moorad
Subject: Re: Small probabilities

Good point; but math is conceptual, not experimental.

Don

        ----- Original Message -----

        From: Alexanian, Moorad <mailto:alexanian@uncw.edu>

        To: Don Winterstein <mailto:dfwinterstein@msn.com> ;
asa@lists.calvin.edu ; Bill Hamilton
<mailto:williamehamiltonjr@yahoo.com>

        Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 1:28 PM

        Subject: RE: Small probabilities

        I really do not know how you would go about performing such an
experiment.

        Moorad

        
________________________________

        From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
[mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Don Winterstein
        Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 2:57 PM
        To: asa@lists.calvin.edu; Bill Hamilton
        Subject: Re: Small probabilities

        The probability of picking a point is one. The probability of
picking a specific point is zero.

        Don

                ----- Original Message -----

                From: Bill Hamilton
<mailto:williamehamiltonjr@yahoo.com>

                To: asa@lists.calvin.edu

                Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 6:01 AM

                Subject: Small probabilities

                I read Dembski's response to Henry Morris
                (http://www.calvin.edu/archive/asa/200510/0514.html)
                and noted that it raised an old issue I've harped on
before: that you can
                specify a probability below which chance is eliminated.
There is a
                counterexample given (among other places) in Davenport
and Root's book "Random
                Signals and Noise" (McGraw Hill, probably sometime in
the early 60's) that goes
                like this:
                Draw a line 1 inch long. Randomly pick a single point on
that line. The
                probability of picking any point on the line is
identically zero. Yet a point
                is picked. Am I missing something?
                
                I will probably unsubscribe this evening, because I
don't really have time
                during the week to read this list. However, I will
watch the archive for
                responses and either resubscribe or resspond offline as
appropriate.
                
                Bill Hamilton
                William E. Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D.
                586.986.1474 (work) 248.652.4148 (home) 248.303.8651
(mobile)
                "...If God is for us, who is against us?" Rom 8:31
                
                
                
                
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Received on Tue Nov 8 09:26:28 2005