Bad statistics & bad philosophy

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Abstract

Recently, Carlo Rovelli wrote an essay about bad philosophy hampering the progress of physics [1]. That, of course, can be true. Nevertheless, my letter will present a definite proof that bad statistics hampers that progress as well. Here we show that erroneous statistical underpinnings of a key experiment to demonstrate the absence of Einstein data in the empirical reality, disallows a serious conclusion from an experiment. The experiment [2] is paradigmatic for a whole array of similar experiments. We mention e.g. Weihs et al [3]. The presentation of the flaw is done without much reference to random variables and detailed probability violations. It is based on an integral expression to make it easier for not statistically schooled readers who are interested in philosophy of physics. It is however statistical methodology of experiments in foundational physics. The derived result implies that Einstein data may still exist in the empirical reality. The general context of this result is not only philosophical or foundational. It affects quantum technology as well. Quantum security, more in particular entanglement based quantum key distribution, may not be safe at all when Einsteinian variables exist and can be manipulated.

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