按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
say： ‘‘There were in the months of January； February； March； April； May and June an average of x cases。 Because we have observed the average to happen six times； we conclude that it will not happen in the other months but that instead； x＋y cases will occur in those months； since otherwise the average annual count will not be attained。'' This would be a mistaken abstraction of the principle of equal distribution from the general Humian law； for the Humian law applied to this case indicates： ‘‘For a long series of years we have observed that in this region there occur annually so and so many suicides； we conclude therefore that in this year also there will occur a similar number of suicides。''
The principle of equal distribution presents itself therefore as a subordinate rule which must not be separated from the principal law。 It is； indeed； valid for the simplest events。 When I resolve to walk in x street； which I know well； and when I recall whether to…day is Sunday or a week day； what time it is and what the weather is like； I know quite accurately how the street will look with regard to the people that may be met there； although a large number of these people have chosen the time accidentally and might as well have passed through another street。 If； for once； there were more people in the street； I should immediately ask myself what unusual event had taken place。
One of my cousins who had a good deal of free time to dispose of； spent it for several months； with the assistance of his comrade； in counting the number of horses that passed daily； in the course of two hours； by a caf