Open Accessbad mathematics of the bad luck theory
Author(s) -
Мария Алексеевна Беляева
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
metodološki zvezki
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1854-0031
pISSN - 1854-0023
DOI - 10.51936/uemw1852
Subject(s) - luck , popularity , foundation (evidence) , positive economics , epistemology , mathematical economics , psychology , mathematics , economics , philosophy , law , political science , social psychology
The mathematics of the Bad Luck theory of carcinogenesis by Tomasetti and Vogelstein generated a great deal of controversy among cancer specialists but did not draw the mathematicians' attention. Thus the gross mathematical mistakes of the theory foundation did not get a proper critique and remained unnoticed. As a result, the sensational quantitative estimates of the role of Bad Luck in cancer occurrence, though being erroneous, have spread widely among researchers and the general public and got the unfair popularity. The present paper reviews the actual mathematical mistakes of Bad Luck theory.