Conjunction fallacy

  • The conjunction fallacy is the mistaken belief that specific conditions are more probable than a single general one.
  • Adding conditions can only reduce or maintain probability, never increase it.
  • This is a well-known cognitive bias studied in rationality and decision-making.
23 April 2020 · 1 min · Stefano Chiodino

Alkaline battery

  • Producing an alkaline battery may require up to 100 times more energy than the battery can deliver.
  • This highlights the significant environmental cost of disposable batteries.
22 April 2020 · 1 min · Stefano Chiodino

Asia after World War Two

  • Post-WWII forecasts predicted Asia would struggle due to poverty and lack of resources.
  • Asia was considered worse off than Africa at the time.
  • Labour force and education proved sufficient to overcome resource disadvantages.
22 April 2020 · 1 min · Stefano Chiodino

Probability can be subjective

  • Probability can be subjective depending on the information available to the observer.
  • A secretly observed coin flip is 100% certain for the observer but 50% for everyone else.
  • Knowledge asymmetry changes the probability assessment for different people.
22 April 2020 · 1 min · Stefano Chiodino