3 ms·
Coincidences aren't connections. If you have N numerical facts, then there are N²−N pairs of facts (consider the 90 pairs that can be made from 10 facts). By pu
by db48x 6y ago
Coincidences aren't connections. If you have N numerical facts, then there are N²−N pairs of facts (consider the 90 pairs that can be made from 10 facts). By pure chance alone, _some_ of those pairs are going to seem interesting to humans. Some of those pairs are related by cause and effect, but the majority are just happenstance.
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoThat’s ok. We can still find patterns in them, right? What is it to stop us from looking?
- db48x 6y agoNothing, as long as we learn the art of discerning coincidence from causation. An important part of that is deliberately noticing how many possibilities we're picking amongst when we single out a coincidence. Here's a funny anecdote about the same topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JwEYamjXpA&t=2676s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JwEYamjXpA&t=2676s