Interesting thread in diaries

[rsweeney]

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I found this post in the "diaries" section and thought I would share it. And yes I know it probably does not belong here, but I thought it was relevant to us. The OP asked if everything is possible---like getting into a professional school or anything at all. I thought it provoked my philosophical side, and I thought it would provoke yours, too. Here is my response to his question, "Is everything possible?"

I would say that all things are PROBABLE, but not all things are possible---Then again before snowshoes were invented it was THOUGHT OF as impossible to walk on deep snow w/o sinking. Now it is possible to walk on snow. Before the spaceship was invented it was THOUGHT OF as impossible to go to space---then the spaceship was invented. To say something is impossible just does not make sense---Science and innovation delivers some pretty amazing things---things that were once thought of as impossible. Further, is it not arrogant to say that things that have not happened yet are impossible? I think so. The IDEA or THOUGHT may seem impossible, but only becacuse the action associated with the idea has never been witnessed---like walking on water, for example. Even an impossibility must have a probability-value associated with it. Here's one---"what is the probabilty that someone will come along and say this thread does not belong in this forum." The idea certainly is not impossible, but considering the frequency with which people comment on irrellevant/unrelated threads is high, I would say it may be highly probable. Anyways---until enough data is there to support a claim, then it is impossible to say something is impossible, yet it might be correct to say it is only slightly improbable.

 

[ShawnOne]

rsweeny,

"I would say that all things are PROBABLE, but not all things are possible"

So its probable but not possible?? try to ease off the crack my man.

 

[ItsGavinC]

But yet your response makes no sense.

If something is catergorized as being even .00000000001% probable, then it is entirely possible.

Essentialy, all things are possible, although not highly probable. Which is the exact opposite of your statement.

In fact, your statement: "I would say that all things are PROBABLE, but not all things are possible," makes NO sense and is completely illogical.

How can all things be probable but not possible? They first must be possible in order to be probable.

Better rethink that one.

 

[rsweeney]

!If something is catergorized as being even .00000000001% probable, then it is entirely possible.

Once you have enough statistical outcomes that entirely lead to unfavavorable outcomes (0.0000000%) and no favorable outcomes, then the certain event IS statistically impossible AND improbable. If it was 0.00000001%, then this situation certainly is improbable, but NOT impossible. What you said Gavin is true, but you failed to realize the 0.0000000% outcome. 0.000000% = statistically impossible and improbable. 0.0000001% = statistically improbable but not impossible! Therefore, and I will change what I said, all things have a degree of probability, but not all things are impossible, yet sometimes they are. Someone else needs to ease off the crack!

 

[ShawnOne]

rock on!

 

[NDBeast]

Stats, yuck.