Why are normal distributions so normal? The answer is partly because of selective reporting. In physical systems, an indefinite number of random factors combine to affect an outcome.
The shape of a probability distribution reflects – albeit very indirectly and cryptically – logical properties about the generating mechanism underneath.
The insight that science will progress faster if it focuses on differentiating evidence, is extremely profound, and the most important concept in the philosophy of science.
If we let the unconscious cognitive processes constitute a filter, we find not only the filtration of how the brain collects data, but also biases in what hypotheses it focuses evidence acquisition on.
