1st Edition

Paradoxes in Scientific Inference

By Mark Chang Copyright 2013
    292 Pages 45 B/W Illustrations
    by Chapman & Hall

    291 Pages
    by Chapman & Hall

    Paradoxes are poems of science and philosophy that collectively allow us to address broad multidisciplinary issues within a microcosm. A true paradox is a source of creativity and a concise expression that delivers a profound idea and provokes a wild and endless imagination. The study of paradoxes leads to ultimate clarity and, at the same time, indisputably challenges your mind.

    Paradoxes in Scientific Inference analyzes paradoxes from many different perspectives: statistics, mathematics, philosophy, science, artificial intelligence, and more. The book elaborates on findings and reaches new and exciting conclusions. It challenges your knowledge, intuition, and conventional wisdom, compelling you to adjust your way of thinking. Ultimately, you will learn effective scientific inference through studying the paradoxes.

    The Joy of Paradoxes: A Random Walk
    Introduction to Paradox
    Applications of Paradoxes
    Mathematical Paradox
    Probabilistic and Statistical Paradoxes

    Mathematical and Plausible Reasoning
    Probability and Randomness
    Mathematical Logic and Formal Reasoning
    Plausible Reasoning

    Statistical Measures of Scientific Evidence
    Introduction to Statistical Methods
    Statistical Principles
    Decision Theory Approach
    Controversies in Evidence Measures
    Causal Space Theory: Unification of Paradigms
    Multiplicity: The Black Hole of Scientific Discovery

    Scientific Principles and Inferences
    Epistemology
    Controversies in Scientific Philosophy
    Paradox of a Logical System
    Paradox and Game Theory

    Artificial Intelligence
    Paradoxes in Artificial Intelligence
    Architecture of Artificial Intelligent Agent
    Learning and Teaching

    Appendix: Mathematical Notations

    Bibliography

    Index

    A Review and Exercises appear at the end of each chapter.

    Biography

    Mark Chang is vice president of biometrics at AMAG Pharmaceuticals and an adjunct professor at Boston University. Dr. Chang is a co-founder of the International Society for Biopharmaceutical Statistics and an elected fellow of the American Statistical Association. He serves on the editorial boards of several statistical journals and has published five books on biostatistics and clinical trial designs.

    "… an excellent book discussing the principles of scientific inference for readers with various backgrounds. Paradoxes are seen sporadically in different occasions; a systematic review in this book may reshape the reader’s brain, as the author warns, and, at the very least, provides a fresh view of scientific philosophy."
    —Gang Li, Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics, 24, 2014

    "This is a very, very entertaining book. It is extremely well written, extremely clear, and very highly recommended."
    —Norman R. Draper, International Statistical Review (2013), 81

    "… the brisk pace makes the pages turn easily and the book is fun …"
    —Sandra Z. Keith, MAA Reviews, April 2013