But as no two (theoreticians) agree on this (skin…
“But as no two (theoreticians) agree on this (skin friction) or any other subject, some not agreeing today with what they wrote a year ago, I think we might put down all their results, add them together, and then divide by the number of mathematicians, and thus find the average coefficient of error. (1908)”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientists disagree, so averaging their results may estimate error but ignores systematic bias.
In simple terms: Averaging conflicting data gives a rough error estimate.
Key Takeaway
Use statistical averaging cautiously.
Themes
science
uncertainty
methodology
error_analysis
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
academic
critical
When to use this quote
- research
- engineering
- policy_making
Key Concepts
averaging
bias
collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- How reliable is a consensus when data conflict?
- When should you reject outliers?
A Different Perspective
Averaging can mask underlying flaws.