Search found 204 matches

by Richard Baron
Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:02 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem
Replies: 13
Views: 10739

Re: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem

But for practical purposes, given well-manufacture dice, the variations are tiny, and the theoretical probability models work well. Other games, like betting on horses, can't be modeled as completely and effectively. Another area that may be of interest is that of phenomena where we know perfectly ...
by Richard Baron
Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:04 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem
Replies: 13
Views: 10739

Re: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem

I think it can be shown that any device that gives Joe a chance to switch improves his odds of winning, if Monty has opened some doors. And switching with certainty is the best strategy. Yes. Assume there are n doors in total, and Monty opens m of them, where m < (n - 1). If the player does not swi...
by Richard Baron
Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:31 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem
Replies: 13
Views: 10739

Re: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem

Now, if Joe flips a coin to decide whether to switch in the first place, the chance to win reverts to 1/3 ( or does it? -- maybe greater than 1/3? Another puzzle). The overall probability of winning becomes 1/2. Suppose that heads means switch. Half of the time he does not switch, and has a probabi...
by Richard Baron
Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:42 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem
Replies: 13
Views: 10739

Re: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem

Sorry are you refuting that switching is always an advantage? No, I am saying that switching is always the right thing to do, because it increases the probability that you will win from 1/3 to 2/3. There are plays of the game on which you will lose by switching: those plays when the prize is behind...
by Richard Baron
Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:29 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem
Replies: 13
Views: 10739

Re: "Monty Hall" Three Doors Problem

It's 2/3. The point is that the prize does not have any chance of moving after Monty opens a door (say one of B and C, the player having chosen A), behind which the prize is not to be found. So it is not 1/2 because it is not the case that after that opening, the prize is randomly allocated between ...
by Richard Baron
Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:37 am
Forum: Aesthetics
Topic: Poetry here.
Replies: 1185
Views: 365567

Re: Poetry here.

But if passion can be a product of brain cells then why can't God? Both can only be felt and not seen....right? Well, belief in God, a sense of God, and so on could be, indeed are, a product of brain cells (plus the surrounding society of other collections of brain cells and what they have construc...
by Richard Baron
Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:55 pm
Forum: Aesthetics
Topic: Poetry here.
Replies: 1185
Views: 365567

Re: Poetry here.

Can you understand the theist any better when you apply the same sentiment to them? When aesthetics come to life so intensely that you feel it's breath on your neck...how is it possible not to believe? Not that I have had that experience with God breathing down my neck...he has not yet made his pre...
by Richard Baron
Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:15 pm
Forum: Aesthetics
Topic: Poetry here.
Replies: 1185
Views: 365567

Re: Poetry here.

Thank you for your kind comments, AS. The tone I had not noticed, but now I see what you mean. Be assured that the gods have given me no talent for creating visual art, or music, or for driving horseless carriages.
by Richard Baron
Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:57 am
Forum: Aesthetics
Topic: Poetry here.
Replies: 1185
Views: 365567

Re: Poetry here.

Cogito Descartes would have said When I go to bed I cannot yet know If this here pillow Is only a dream Not what it might seem Until I have thought As he said I ought Of what thinking shows And of God who knows 'Tis wrong to deceive Or humans to peeve But what if God asked Why he should be tasked Wi...
by Richard Baron
Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:41 pm
Forum: Book Club
Topic: Histories of Philosophy
Replies: 28
Views: 22660

Re: Histories of Philosophy

There are 8 volume of the book A History of Philosophy by Frederick Copleston which will be good source. There are 11 This discrepancy is easily explained. There were originally eight, then three more were added (one on French philosophy, one on Russian philosophy, and a slim one on logical positiv...
by Richard Baron
Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:10 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: philosophy of mathematics
Replies: 82
Views: 36776

Re: philosophy of mathematics

As to a philosophy of math: Here is a proposal that is philosophical and has to do with math: The operations of mathematical symbols only reflect a valid operation in their basic relations. Once interpretation takes place, math has been removed from actual presentation (identity) of the phenomenon ...
by Richard Baron
Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:39 pm
Forum: Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Topic: philosophy of mathematics
Replies: 82
Views: 36776

Re: philosophy of mathematics

zorro wrote:
Arising_uk wrote:You say you don't understand a subject and then try to define it?
What's wrong with that? :roll:
Aha, an instance of Meno's paradox! (Meno, 80d-e)
by Richard Baron
Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:44 pm
Forum: Introduce Yourself
Topic: Newbie
Replies: 25
Views: 9430

Re: Newbie

If a new section is to be created, it might be appropriate to call it "Logic and philosophy of mathematics".
by Richard Baron
Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:15 pm
Forum: Book Club
Topic: Logic by the good Reverend Dodgson.
Replies: 14
Views: 7420

Re: Logic by the good Reverend Dodgson.

A quick glance at the books suggests that they essentially do syllogisms with Venn diagrams, and use an ingenious square form of diagram, rather than the more usual overlapping circles, in order to keep the diagrams clear when there are several properties that objects may or may not have (with three...
by Richard Baron
Mon Apr 11, 2011 11:08 pm
Forum: Book Club
Topic: Logic by the good Reverend Dodgson.
Replies: 14
Views: 7420

Re: Logic by the good Reverend Dodgson.

artisticsolution wrote:I will suppress every desire I have to argue with this book and hopefully I will learn something.
But no AS, it is encouraged, with him to argue. That way can one more learn. And if you more fun with him have would like to, can you this piece enjoy:

http://www.ditext.com/carroll/tortoise.html