Any difference between men and women on average is just that: on average. Think almost-but-not-quite-completely overlapping Gaussian curves.
The second sentence does not follow from the first. It is also possible for the Gaussian curves to be so far apart that there is almost no overlap, and that situation is still perfectly describable by saying that there is a difference between both populations on average but reflects a much stronger difference in prior probability. As a matter of empirical fact, only 20% of Alcor’s members were female as of 1999, and the number of women opposed to their husband’s cryonics arrangements is well-known as the hostile wife phenomenon. Combine with Dr. Miller’s experience and we have a strong outside view case that ilzolende’s mother will probably react worse than her father to cryonics.
No, of course it doesn’t follow automatically, but a lot of the time people point out an average difference between men and women, this is the case. I happen to think it’s quite likely that there are good explanations for the phenomena you cite that don’t include “women are intrinsically more biased against cryonics than men”; there are certainly possible explanations, so it would be a bit daft to assume that that one possibility explains all the variance.
I happen to think it’s quite likely that there are good explanations for the phenomena you cite that don’t include “women are intrinsically more biased against cryonics than men”
I think the explanation is that women are intrinsically more conformist then men and since cryonics is currently unusual and perceived as weird, well.
so it would be a bit daft to assume that that one possibility explains all the variance.
The rule of thumb is that 20% of the causes are responsible for 80% of the effect.
The second sentence does not follow from the first. It is also possible for the Gaussian curves to be so far apart that there is almost no overlap, and that situation is still perfectly describable by saying that there is a difference between both populations on average but reflects a much stronger difference in prior probability. As a matter of empirical fact, only 20% of Alcor’s members were female as of 1999, and the number of women opposed to their husband’s cryonics arrangements is well-known as the hostile wife phenomenon. Combine with Dr. Miller’s experience and we have a strong outside view case that ilzolende’s mother will probably react worse than her father to cryonics.
No, of course it doesn’t follow automatically, but a lot of the time people point out an average difference between men and women, this is the case. I happen to think it’s quite likely that there are good explanations for the phenomena you cite that don’t include “women are intrinsically more biased against cryonics than men”; there are certainly possible explanations, so it would be a bit daft to assume that that one possibility explains all the variance.
I think the explanation is that women are intrinsically more conformist then men and since cryonics is currently unusual and perceived as weird, well.
The rule of thumb is that 20% of the causes are responsible for 80% of the effect.