The relationship between mathematics and morality can be tricky to understand but is essential to making good decisions. Moral mathematics is the application of mathematical methods, such as formal logic and probability, to moral problems. It helps to make quantitative comparisons and to evaluate the likelihood of particular outcomes. It can also explain why events with imperceptible effects can be significant in one situation but insignificant in another. Moreover, expected utility theory provides a powerful tool for responding to uncertainty. However, moral mathematics must be sensitive to circumstances and tolerant of errors grounded in uncertainty, and should be mindful of human tendencies to overestimate the probability of both good and bad outcomes. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
