Having spent the past 9 months doing nothing but mathematics, and reading nothing outside of mathematics, I come to realize that the virtue of the subject is not at all in the applications, but in refining one’s instinct against noise and bullshit. I tried to read a magazine article, and couldn’t. But I can still read Erasmus, or Spinoza, or the aphorists.
via Having spent the past 9 months doing… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Facebook. 6/28/13
As a child I wondered if the difference between modern art and carricature was just a cultural construction for the rich to spend money for status. I am still wondering.
via As a child I wondered if the difference… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Facebook. 6/28/13
Finally in a snapshot the predictable and tractable differences between Dr John and Fat Tony, school and life, models and reality, theories and practice… And why how to be rigorous in the ecological domain has different recipes.
via Timeline Photos | Facebook. 6/27/13
Friends, I wonder if someone has computed how much would be saved if we shut down economics and political science departments in universities. Those who need to research these subjects can do so on their private time. Society would save tons from errors, of course, and this move would insure long term economic stability, but there has to be a direct saving in tax money subsidizing these people. Any idea?
via Friends, I wonder if someone has… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Facebook. 6/26/13