Shallow Dives

Unlike most legal principles that require proof of intent or negligence, strict liability holds parties responsible regardless of fault. This seemingly harsh rule actually functions as sophisticated social technology—aligning incentives, reducing litigation costs, and forcing risk onto those best positioned to manage it.

Legal precedent—the principle that past court decisions should guide future rulings—transforms isolated judgments into a self-building legal system. Understanding this mechanism reveals how law evolves without constant legislative intervention.

A devastating statistical error has sent innocent people to prison by confusing the probability of evidence with the probability of guilt. Understanding this fallacy reveals how easily our intuition about probability can lead us catastrophically astray.