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Is the following true?
Since the majority of people who have ever lived are living still, probability does not support the major premise of the syllogism in question, namely, that all men are mortal.
It's not true, but I once thought it was. On being questioned, I tracked down where I thought I'd got it from, and found it hadn't said it. But perhaps the claim is circulating and I picked it up from somewhere.
If you look at the Earth's population estimates, you see something like this, (which is very rough): 1 thousand million in 1800, 2 thousand million in 1900, 3 in 1930, 4 in 1960, and increasing. Project these forward and back and add them up to either 100 000 or 3 000 000 years ago, it makes no difference which, and you find that our present population is of the order of one fifth of those who have ever lived. But it should reach the majority within a hundred years.
(Repeats disclaimer about vagueness, but it gives the right picture at least.)
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Logic wwh 04/16/01 05:50 PM Re: Logic AnnaStrophic 04/16/01 06:03 PM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/16/01 06:11 PM Re: Logic Hyla 04/16/01 07:35 PM Re: Logic Anonymous 04/16/01 09:37 PM Re: Logic NicholasW 04/17/01 10:14 AM Re: Logic Faldage 04/17/01 12:42 PM Re: Logic Bobyoungbalt 04/17/01 05:04 PM Re: Logic inselpeter 04/17/01 07:53 PM Re: Logic wwh 04/17/01 09:25 PM Re: Logic Faldage 04/17/01 09:58 PM Re: Logic inselpeter 04/20/01 09:44 AM Re: Logic Faldage 04/20/01 01:50 PM Re: Logic inselpeter 04/23/01 06:02 AM Re: Logic Capital Kiwi 04/23/01 07:47 AM Re: Logic Faldage 04/23/01 02:32 PM Re: Logic NicholasW 04/18/01 07:08 AM Re: Logic Faldage 04/18/01 12:11 PM Re: Logic RhubarbCommando 04/20/01 12:08 PM Re: Logic kummini 04/21/01 01:42 PM Re: Logic Rouspeteur 04/21/01 08:04 PM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/22/01 02:17 AM Re: Logic Capital Kiwi 04/22/01 04:30 AM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/22/01 04:39 AM Re: Logic Capital Kiwi 04/22/01 05:06 AM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/22/01 04:40 PM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/22/01 07:48 PM ShhhhLogic musick 04/22/01 07:57 PM Re: Logic wwh 04/22/01 08:02 PM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/22/01 08:25 PM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/23/01 09:09 AM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/23/01 09:27 AM Re: Logic Faldage 04/23/01 03:12 PM Re: Logic Faldage 04/23/01 03:19 PM Re: Logic musick 04/23/01 03:27 PM Re: Logic wow 04/23/01 05:17 PM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/23/01 07:41 PM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/27/01 11:20 PM Re: Logic Capital Kiwi 04/28/01 06:01 AM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/28/01 09:26 AM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/28/01 09:53 AM Re: Logic Jackie 04/28/01 02:48 PM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/28/01 10:27 PM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/28/01 10:38 PM Re: Logic Capital Kiwi 04/29/01 05:52 AM Re: Logic Max Quordlepleen 04/29/01 06:17 AM Re: Logic jimthedog 04/29/01 09:44 AM Re: Logic Rouspeteur 04/29/01 12:44 PM Re: Logic wwh 04/22/01 10:40 PM Re: Logic Rouspeteur 04/22/01 11:00 PM Re: Logic inselpeter 04/23/01 05:54 AM Re: Logic musick 04/21/01 08:16 PM Re: Logic kummini 04/25/01 03:34 PM Comic relief Jackie 04/26/01 01:32 AM Re: Comic relief Rouspeteur 04/26/01 02:15 AM Re: Comic relief Capital Kiwi 04/26/01 04:13 AM Re: Comic relief kummini 04/26/01 05:44 AM Re: Comic relief Faldage 04/26/01 11:59 AM Re: Comic relief Jackie 04/26/01 06:29 PM
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