I’ve been thinking a lot about how ancient philosophy might intersect with modern data analysis, especially as someone who works with big data daily. Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, often talked about focusing on what’s within our control and accepting what isn’t. So, if he were analyzing big data trends today, do you think he’d stress over outliers, or would he just see them as indifferentsomething outside his control?
On one hand, outliers can skew results and lead to misguided decisions, which feels like something worth addressing. But on the other hand, maybe he’d argue that obsessing over them is pointless if they’re truly random or unpredictable. Curious to hear your thoughtshow do you balance the practical need to address outliers with the philosophical idea of accepting what you can’t control?