Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Popman

I don’t disagree with your conclusion, but would like to point out that the particular argument you cite here isn’t all that good.

There are a great many areas of science in which small-scale predictions cannot be made with assurance, but long-term large scale predictions can.

A classic example is gambling. Whether a given pull of the handle on the one-armed bandit will produce a jackpot cannot be accurately predicted. But the more pulls are made and the larger the number of bandits, the closer the results will get to those predicted by the set odds.

Economics is another example. It is essentially impossible to make accurate predictions about an individual person’s financial prospects. It is much more possible to predict the movement of an entire economy.

IOW, in science large-scale predictions are very often more accurate than small-scale ones.

Whether this principle applies specifically to weather and climate change predictions is something I’m not addressing.


17 posted on 05/18/2014 7:38:36 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies ]


To: Sherman Logan
A classic example is gambling.

Not sure about that...

Gambling in it's many forms is strictly a numbers game...so many combinations and so many chances to win...at some point you will win...you will be broke, but you won!!!

Climate change is much more complex and so many unknowns you can't figure into your prediction.

I think it's apples and oranges...JMHO

18 posted on 05/18/2014 7:47:04 AM PDT by Popman ("Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" - Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson