Uncertain: Difference between revisions

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of a potential future state, not possible to predict using mathematical tools, even probabilistically. So, neither deterministic nor stochastic. Not ''even'' random. This is the state of a complex system, and of most of the world. Interestingly — tellingly — mathematicians don’t even have a concept for uncertain. In the mathematical universe things are either [[deterministic]] or [[stochastic]]. If things are uncertain there is no mathematics to be done: it is useless. No wonder, really, that mathematicians don’t have a concept for it.
of a potential future state, not possible to predict using mathematical tools, even probabilistically. So, neither deterministic nor stochastic. Not ''even'' random. This is the state of a complex system, and of most of the world. Interestingly — tellingly — mathematicians don’t even have a concept for uncertain. In the mathematical universe things are either [[deterministic]] or [[stochastic]]. If things are uncertain there is no mathematics to be done: it is useless. No wonder, really, that mathematicians don’t have a concept for it.


This leads those in applied disciplines that depend on logic and mathematics (such as computer programming) to forget that there is such a thing as [[uncertainty]]. This is rather a large oversight, and it leads to rather unfortunate gaffes.
This leads those in applied disciplines that depend on logic and mathematics (such as computer programming) to forget that there is such a thing as [[uncertainty]]. Given that the world, generally, is [[complex]] and [[uncertain]], this is quite the oversight.


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Revision as of 12:26, 6 November 2022

The JC’s amateur guide to systems theory


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Uncertain
/ʌnˈsɜːtn/ (adj.)

of a potential future state, not possible to predict using mathematical tools, even probabilistically. So, neither deterministic nor stochastic. Not even random. This is the state of a complex system, and of most of the world. Interestingly — tellingly — mathematicians don’t even have a concept for uncertain. In the mathematical universe things are either deterministic or stochastic. If things are uncertain there is no mathematics to be done: it is useless. No wonder, really, that mathematicians don’t have a concept for it.

This leads those in applied disciplines that depend on logic and mathematics (such as computer programming) to forget that there is such a thing as uncertainty. Given that the world, generally, is complex and uncertain, this is quite the oversight.

See also