I have described statistics — the one math-y thing I’m really good at doing — as narratives told using numbers. If the narrative is wrong, the numbers will be useless. Pinker refuses to analyze and discuss the underlying facts — the historical narrative — that he summarizes using statistics. Since he has a number thrown in there, most people assume he’s Smart and will refuse to think any further.
I have described statistics — the one math-y thing I’m really good at doing — as narratives told using numbers. If the narrative is wrong, the numbers will be useless. Pinker refuses to analyze and discuss the underlying facts — the historical narrative — that he summarizes using statistics. Since he has a number thrown in there, most people assume he’s Smart and will refuse to think any further.