Friday Roundup 12-24-21

Scott Alexander at Astral Codex Ten makes an interesting point about the term “no evidence” (HT-Gus Van Horn). Alexander notes that the term is used to mean “this is plausible but we haven’t really proven it” as well as “this is false.” There is a huge difference between the two meanings. The former means that we have reasons (which is evidence) to believe that this is true, but don’t have conclusive proof to validate it. In such instances, it is incorrect to say that there is no evidence. As Leonard Peikoff points out in Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, “A conclusion is “possible” if there is some, but not much, evidence in favor of it, and nothing known that contradicts it.”

The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case against Texas Central, the company that wants to build a high-speed railroad between Houston and Dallas. The company has sought to use eminent domain to seize land from private property owners. Landowner Jim Miles filed suit against the company. Texans Against High-Speed Rail reports,

After an initial trial court ruling in favor of Miles in 2018, the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals reversed it in 2019. The Texas Supreme Court initially denied Miles’ petition to hear his case, but granted rehearing and set oral argument on Miles’ appeal for January 11, 2022. 

A survey by a community service organization in New York City found that low-income New Yorkers want higher wages. That isn’t surprising. Nearly everyone wants higher wages. But what an individual wants doesn’t mean that he has earned it. Generally, the more productive an individual is, the higher his wages. If low-income individuals want to earn a higher wage, they must become more productive.