--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They basically ask their engineers to…" description: "\"They basically ask their engineers to volunteer some probability figures, then they take the average. This is not science. This is voodoo,\" — Michio Kaku" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/michio-kaku-907_asks_they-basically-ask-their-engineers-to-vo_834594.png" --- # They basically ask their engineers to volunteer some… ![“They basically ask their engineers to volunteer some probability figures, then they take the average. This is not science. This is voodoo,” quote by Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/michio-kaku-907_asks_they-basically-ask-their-engineers-to-vo_834594.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/michio-kaku-907_asks_they-basically-ask-their-engineers-to-vo_834594.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/michio-kaku-907_asks_they-basically-ask-their-engineers-to-vo_834594.png) > “They basically ask their engineers to volunteer some probability figures, then they take the average. This is not science. This is voodoo,” [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engineers are asked to estimate probabilities subjectively, then averaged, which the speaker deems unscientific and akin to superstition. **In simple terms:** Subjective averaging of estimates is unscientific. Key Takeaway Use rigorous statistical methods. Themes science probability methodology Mood analytical critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - engineering projects - risk assessment - policy making Key Concepts subjective bias statistical rigor Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve probability estimation? - What safeguards prevent bias in averaging? A Different Perspective Data may be scarce. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-engineers-588921/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Average Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-science-588922/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Engineers Volunteer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers-volunteer-588920/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Probability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probability/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Voodoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-voodoo-588919/) [Volunteer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volunteer/) [Voodoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voodoo/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [People who have power, who think negatively of others and seek to injure them, are practicing a kind of voodoo, a lower sorcery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-who-have-power-who-think-negatively-of-others-and-seek-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Because that was some kind of voodoo, and I did not believe in magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-love/because-that-was-some-kind-of-voodoo-and-i-did-not-believe-in-magic/) [Bella Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-love/) > [Too bad you can't buy a voodoo globe so that you could make the earth spin real fast and freak everybody out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/too-bad-you-can-t-buy-a-voodoo-globe-so-that-you-could-make-the-earth/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [And if you dolled up, I got the voodoo for you b-tches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/and-if-you-dolled-up-i-got-the-voodoo-for-you-b-tches/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I can no longer believe in any voodoo spell or laboratory virus. 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Once it's doing that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/a-human-body-can-think-thoughts-play-a-piano-kill-germs-remove-toxins/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“I’m as fond of my body as anyone, but if I can be 200 with a body of silicon, I’ll take it. —DANIEL HILL,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-m-as-fond-of-my-body-as-anyone-but-if-i-can-be-200-with-a-body-of/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Science is about principles. It's about concepts. It's not about memorizing the parts of a flower. 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