[T01]

Module: Basic statistics

T00. Introduction
T01. Basic concepts
T02. The rules of probability
T03. The game show puzzle
T04. Expected values
T05. Probability and utility
T06. Cooperation
T07. Summarizing data
T08. Samples and biases
T09. Sampling error
T10. Hypothesis testing
T11. Correlation
T12. Simpson's paradox
T13. The post hoc fallacy
T14. Controlled trials
T15. Bayesian confirmation

Quote of the page

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

- Francis Bacon

Help us promote
critical thinking!

Popular pages

What is critical thinking?
What is logic?
Hardest logic puzzle ever
Free miniguide
What is an argument?
Knights and knaves puzzles
Logic puzzles
What is a good argument?
Improving critical thinking
Analogical arguments

God knows!

Sorry--that was something of a trick question! This famous argument is known as Pascal's Wager, and it was formulated by Pascal in defence of his Christian faith. Essentially, Pascal argues that being a Christian is a "good bet". Pascal's Wager has attracted a lot of attention from philosophers ever since, and I certainly couldn't do justice to this debate in a paragraph or two! If you want to learn more about Pascal's Wager and the philosophical responses to it, check the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

next tutorial