Philosophy – Graham Lappin

Has the scientific method been suspended?

There’s a scene in the Netflix series Space Force when Chief Scientist Dr. Adrian Mallory asks, “why do you distrust scientists?” To which General Naird angrily replies, “you scientists say don’t eat carbs one day and only eat carbs the next”. One of the scientists in the room interjects, saying, “because of the sample sizesContinue reading “Has the scientific method been suspended?”

I just know I'm right

Apart from death and taxes, the next most certain thing in life is how social media will suddenly light up with self-proclaimed experts on whatever topic grasps the public interest at the time. Over the past few years we’ve had upsurges in confident opinion on everything from economics, British constitutional law, international trade, vaccines andContinue reading “I just know I'm right”

Cobras and pencil stubs – be careful what you wish for

Here in the UK we are in the conference season, when political parties get together to tell the faithful what they intend to do if they get into government. Not being a political blog, I’m not commenting on proposed tax cuts, or increases in government spending, or public schools,* or homelessness, or anything else, butContinue reading “Cobras and pencil stubs – be careful what you wish for”

Sunday Church

For the first time in over 3-years I went to church. A member of my immediate family became dangerously ill and my wife, sons and their partners gathered together with little hope of her survival. As is so often the case, some light humour helped release the pressure. I looked up into the sky andContinue reading “Sunday Church”

Rerunning the great science experiment

A lawyer friend of mine once asked me what science is, and what separates it from any other intellectual discipline? The question followed a philosophical discussion where I claimed my friend, as a lawyer, had a tendency to decide upon his desired outcome and then search for the evidence to support it. Science, I explained,Continue reading “Rerunning the great science experiment”