Another month, another rationality quotes thread. The rules are:
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How self-referentially absurd. More precisely, epidemiologists do this day in day out using biostatistical models, then applying causal inference (the counterfactual knowledge part incl.). I said biostatisticians because epidemiology isn't in the common vernacular. Ironically, counterfactual knowledge is, to those familiar with the distinction, distinctly removed from the biostatistical domain.
Just for the sake of intellectual curiosity, I wonder what kind of paradox was just invoked prior to this clarification.
It wouldn't be the epimenides paradox since that refers to an individual making a self-referentially absurd claim:
Anyone?
Yes, Anders_H is Doctor of Science in Epidemiology. He's someone worth listening to when he tells you about what can and can't be done with experiment design.