Editing 1570: Engineer Syllogism
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | A {{w|syllogism}} is a | + | {{incomplete|It can be improved.}} |
− | #All men are mortal | + | A {{w|syllogism}} is a logical argument where two or more propositions lead to a conclusion through deductive reasoning. For example, one of the best-known syllogisms is: |
− | #Socrates is a man | + | # All men are mortal |
− | #Therefore, Socrates is mortal | + | # Socrates is a man |
+ | # Therefore, Socrates is mortal | ||
In this comic, [[Cueball]] is an engineer who is attempting to make the following syllogism: | In this comic, [[Cueball]] is an engineer who is attempting to make the following syllogism: | ||
− | #I am good at understanding "numbers" (i.e., mathematics) | + | # I am good at understanding "numbers" (i.e., mathematics) |
− | #The stock market is made of numbers | + | # The stock market is made of numbers |
− | #Therefore, I am good at understanding the stock market | + | # Therefore, I am good at understanding the stock market |
− | Since most engineers are | + | Since most engineers are good at math, proposition 1 seems to be true. It is also loosely true that the {{w|stock market}} is made of numbers, but only in the sense that every system can be given a post-hoc numeric characterization; the dynamics of the stock market are primarily human-driven. In this comic Cueball thinks that his skill at math will help him beat the stock market. Little does he know that the system can be unpredictable, so he ends up losing money as the stock he's invested in crashes. This outcome is foreshadowed in the [[title text]] of [[592: Drama]]. |
− | Even if the propositions "I am good at understanding numbers" and "The stock market is made of numbers" were true in Cueball's interpretation, Cueball would still be wrong to conclude that "I am good at understanding the stock market": this would be a {{w|fallacy of the undistributed middle}} | + | Even if the propositions "I am good at understanding numbers" and "The stock market is made of numbers" were true in Cueball's interpretation, and even if the implicit premise that understanding a system's components implies understanding the system held, Cueball would still be wrong to conclude that "I am good at understanding the stock market": this would be a {{w|fallacy of the undistributed middle}}. The problem is that proposition 1 seems to say "I am good at understanding all math". However, the "all" is not present, so Cueball may not necessarily understand the math underlying the stock market. |
− | + | The title text could be a reference to the recent {{w|2015 Chinese stock market crash}} or to economic depressions in general. | |
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
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− | + | :[An white frame with text inside two lying down "{" type parenthesis] | |
− | :[An white frame with text inside | + | :An engineer |
− | :An engineer syllogism | + | :syllogism. |
:[Cueball is at his desk in front of his computer, with his hands on his knees, thinking.] | :[Cueball is at his desk in front of his computer, with his hands on his knees, thinking.] | ||
− | :Cueball | + | :Cueball, thinking: 1: I am good at understanding numbers. |
:[Cueball takes one hand to his chin, still thinking.] | :[Cueball takes one hand to his chin, still thinking.] | ||
− | :Cueball | + | :Cueball, thinking: 2: The stock market is made of numbers. |
:[Cueball lifts both arms from his legs, still thinking.] | :[Cueball lifts both arms from his legs, still thinking.] | ||
− | :Cueball | + | :Cueball, thinking: 3: Therefore I-- ''Wow'', where did all my money just go? |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Math]] | [[Category:Math]] | ||
[[Category:Logic]] | [[Category:Logic]] | ||
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