Words Poorly Used #135 — Prediction

I am highly skeptical of humans who make predictions.  The word “prediction” literally means to say something before it is true.  If something is not yet true, it can be only in one other class — not true.  Whether or not a thing becomes true is a matter of accident, and not causally linked to the prediction of it in any way.  Whether or not a thing becomes true is in accord with the laws of probability.  If a thing is impossible, or highly improbable, there is no dressing up of a prediction that will make it more possible or probable.  Predictions must be stated in words, and words are not facts because words are fictitious and symbolic placeholders for things, which may or may not be factual.

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