MISLEADING MATH: I noted below how difficult it is to use statistics responsibly. It’s even more difficult to use statistics in a way that appears responsible to people with sharply differing views on the issue under examination–and that’s not just because everyone likes to discredit facts that undercut his beliefs. It’s a problem inherent in the nature of social-science statistics. The basic problem is that all social-science research requires, before it can even get started, a series of assumptions. For... Read more

SO WHY BOTHER WITH SOCIAL SCIENCE? Having said all that–if social science rests on philosophy, why not just present the philosophical case? Well, there are three basic reasons that I can think of: 1) People may share enough of your premises and assumptions that social-science research will actually convince them of your conclusions. For example, if you accept the ways John Lott gathers and presents his “more guns, less crime” numbers, you may well go from a generally pro-gun control... Read more

I shall proceed and continue to watch the blogs… The Agitator: Happy Constitution Day! I remember this one party back in college, some time after midnight, a heated argument about some article or amendment or other was raging. “Well, does anyone actually have a Constitution here?” someone asked. Russo paused, thought for a moment, and brushed aside the plastic vodka bottles and poker chips until she found her little backpack. She dug around in the bag and whipped out–yes!–one of... Read more

“If we are to live together in peace, there must be no war between us!” –George Chakiris to Yul Brynner, “Kings of the Sun” Read more

ANOTHER ROUNDUP OF INTERESTING ARTICLES. More original posting later… for now, here are some other people with stuff to say. Iain Murray on some pro-lifers’ misuse of statistics. (Via The Agitator.) It is incredibly hard to use stats responsibly in any area of social science–check out the John Lott Wars at Reason for an example. I don’t think responsible use of stats is impossible, certainly, but Balko’s right that pro-lifers have much better claims to make than these shaky stats.... Read more

BLOGFEST 2-3: To quote Balko: “Reminder, the big to-do is… September 19th, at the Rendezvous Lounge on 18th and Kalorama. 7:00pm or so. Any, all are invited.” Read more

CHINESE MUGS AND PREGNANCY CENTER QUESTION: A letter from KairosMan. He’s in bold, I’m not. 1) I saw the “Cardinal Ratzinger” Fan Club stuff that you posted, and ordered a mug for my Mom and a hat for me. I should have thought about this first, but I didn’t, and they arrived stamped “Made in China.” I may return the hat, but I so oversold the mug to Mom (the theology student) that I think I may just have to... Read more

IF YOU’LL BE IN NEW HAVEN THIS WEDNESDAY, check this one out: This coming Wednesday, September 18, the Yale Federalist Society will host a debate between Jonah Goldberg of National Review and Michael Lynch of Reason Magazine entitled “Civil Liberties After September 11: Libertarians v. Conservatives.” The debate will begin at 7:30 in room 127 of the law school. It’s free and open to the public. And I don’t care what anybody thinks–the YFS rocks. (Or at least, Yaeger rocks.... Read more

A LOOK INSIDE THE WUGGLY-UMP: What goes on, in my mind? 1) Scariness: I just made up yet another reading list, meaning that I’m covered through June 1, 2004. No kidding. Obsess much? Funniest juxtapositions: in Fall ’02 reading list, the Euthyphro followed by Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter; Spring ’04: Why Humanae Vitae Was Right, followed by Portnoy’s Complaint. Will I actually read all these books? Uh, probably not. But hey, list-making is an end in itself. Number of books... Read more

“If you don’t eat people, they’ll eat you.” –Motto of cannibals, “We Are Going to Eat You” Read more