# Why is statistics so difficult?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-is-statistics-so-difficult/52416>\
**Category:** Statistics\
**Created:** [December 26, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-is-statistics-so-difficult/52416 "2020-12-26T18:52:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![SamBrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@SamBrand](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/SamBrand)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-is-statistics-so-difficult/52416/41 "2021-01-06T13:33:50Z")

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Van Horn’s response should be required reading!

Especially this snippet.

> Chapman also writes,  
> “Statistical inference is based on probability theory, and enables reasoning from specifics to generalities in some cases. It is not just probability theory, though;”  
> —a statement which is only true of _frequentist_ statistical inference, and is flat- out wrong for _Bayesian_ statistical inference, which _is_ in fact just probability theory. Chapman has such a determinedly frequentist mindset that he can’t seem to even acknowledge the existence of a non-frequentist statistics.

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