tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135643188634165782.post1962067781543998031..comments2023-11-03T04:18:47.077-07:00Comments on Brick and rope: On Malcolm GladwellJShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389094051972795199noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135643188634165782.post-54259393093575445942010-09-23T12:14:52.547-07:002010-09-23T12:14:52.547-07:00IMHO, "Theory" has nothing to do with &q...IMHO, "Theory" has nothing to do with "Facts", at least initially. A theory is just that...a conjecture. Something that gets people thinking. Facts may disconfirm the theory, but that is besides the point. A good theory, according to Karl Popper, makes predictions that can be "un"supported by facts...that is, a test of good theory is whether it is falsifiable through empirical testing. That is all we can ask of theory. Good theories prevail till their creators die (see Thomas Kuhn). <br />I think Gladwell's crime, if we may call it that, is inducing theory by using flimsy data. But to the extent that he gets you thinking, his theorizing has had its purpose. (Un)fortunately, as a journalist/writer he can get away with theorizing without peer review...lucky sod.<br /><br />U-C,V-C, We all SeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135643188634165782.post-33706540226805835922010-09-14T10:55:13.354-07:002010-09-14T10:55:13.354-07:00The key thing that would make mee buy the next Gla...The key thing that would make mee buy the next Gladwell that comes out (inspite of this blogpost) is that he soundbites things so well. He creates anecdotes you find yourself talking about. And that is valuable in itself, is it not?JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04389094051972795199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135643188634165782.post-36208361235385537762010-09-14T05:08:30.596-07:002010-09-14T05:08:30.596-07:00Ooops, typo in first sentence of my comment. I mea...Ooops, typo in first sentence of my comment. I meant 'nicely written'.<br />Zenentropyhttp://entropymuse.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135643188634165782.post-38106040267409181772010-09-14T05:06:08.736-07:002010-09-14T05:06:08.736-07:00Very nice written post, J. Thoroughly agree with a...Very nice written post, J. Thoroughly agree with all you say about Gladwell, though I think you have been too kind in the end. Well-written, well-marketed humbug, is what I feel about 'Outliers' - reads well the first time, but you notice all the flaws if you read it again.<br />Zenentropyhttp://entropymuse.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com