Bayesian Theorem: The Divine Abacus for Deciphering Life’s Wisdom

Renda Zhang
7 min readDec 23, 2023

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Hello everyone! Today, let’s chat about a topic that’s both mysterious and fascinating — the Bayesian Theorem. You might be thinking, “Mathematics? Isn’t that super dry?” But hold on, let me tell you, the Bayesian Theorem is no ordinary piece of math. It’s more like a magical abacus in the hands of a deity, helping us unravel the mysteries of life!

First, let’s approach this topic with a perspective influenced by Marxism. Marx spoke about viewing the world through a lens of dynamic change. Life is always evolving, and our understanding and decision-making need to adapt accordingly. That’s where the beauty of the Bayesian Theorem shines: it’s not just a bunch of formulas and numbers, but a way of thinking that teaches us how to navigate this ever-changing world.

Imagine having a tool that adjusts and optimizes itself based on new information. No matter what life throws at you, you could handle it with ease. Fascinating, right? The Bayesian Theorem is exactly that kind of “tool.” It helps us update our viewpoints and decisions based on new evidence.

In the sections that follow, I’ll take you on a journey through this wondrous world of math. We’ll use simple yet intriguing examples, like the well-known Monty Hall problem and a poker card game, to show how the Bayesian Theorem works in practice. No need for deep mathematical knowledge — just follow along, and you’ll discover the charm of this seemingly complex concept.

Ready? Let’s unveil the mysteries of the Bayesian Theorem together and explore how it becomes a wise “divine tool” in our lives!

The Monty Hall Problem: More Than Just a Game of Luck

Let’s start with a classic scenario you might have heard of: the Monty Hall problem. Imagine you’re on a game show with three closed doors in front of you. The host tells you that behind one door, there’s a car you’d love to win, and behind the other two doors are goats. Your task is to guess which door has the car, and if you guess right, the car is yours.

You pick a door at random, but before you open it, the host, who knows what’s behind each door, opens one of the other two doors, revealing a goat. Now, he asks you: do you want to stick with your initial choice, or switch to the other unopened door? Intuitively, you might think it doesn’t matter, it’s a 50/50 chance either way, right?

Here’s where the Bayesian Theorem kicks in. If you decide to switch doors, the probability of winning the car actually jumps to 2/3, whereas sticking with your original choice gives you only a 1/3 chance of winning! Surprising, isn’t it? This is the magic of the Bayesian Theorem. It teaches us how to update our decisions based on new information — in this case, the host revealing a goat behind one of the doors.

The key to this problem lies in the fact that when the host chooses a door to open, he already knows what’s behind each one and will never open the door with the car. So, when he reveals a goat, he’s actually giving you more information about the remaining doors. It’s as if he’s saying, “If your initial choice was wrong, then the other unopened door must be right.”

This example demonstrates the core idea of the Bayesian Theorem: our judgments should be dynamic, updating as new information emerges. Just as Marx said, we should view the world through a lens of dynamic change. Here, the Bayesian Theorem acts like a sharp sword, cutting through the fog to reveal a clearer truth.

Next, we’ll move on to another lively example: a poker card game. This will further illustrate how the Bayesian Theorem operates in real life, guiding us to make better decisions in complex situations.

The Poker Card Game: Unveiling the Secrets of the Deck

Now, let’s shift our setting to a poker card game. Picture yourself sitting around a table with friends, ten face-down poker cards laid out before you. One of these cards is a king, and the rest are regular cards. Your task is to pick one, and if you choose the king, you win.

You make a random pick, but before you reveal your card, an astute friend — who knows the contents of each card — reveals eight out of the nine remaining regular cards. Now, two cards remain: your initial choice and one other unexamined card. At this point, do you stick with your first pick, or switch to the other card?

If we apply the Bayesian Theorem to analyze the situation, things become quite intriguing. Initially, your chance of picking the king was 1/10, as there were ten cards. But after your friend reveals the eight regular cards, the dynamics change. Now, if your initial pick wasn’t the king — which had a 9/10 chance — the unexamined card must surely be the king.

So, according to the Bayesian Theorem, the probability of winning by switching your choice has now increased from 1/10 to 9/10! This simple card game again showcases the power of the Bayesian Theorem: how to adjust our decisions dynamically based on new information.

It’s like having a divine sword in our hands, capable of unveiling truths in various life situations. Whether in complex business decisions or simple daily choices, the Bayesian Theorem serves as our guide to wisdom.

Through these examples, we learn not just a mathematical principle but a way of thinking. This mindset encourages us to constantly update our views and assumptions, in line with the dynamic worldview emphasized in Marxism. This is the allure of the Bayesian Theorem: it’s not just a tool for solving problems but a new perspective for viewing the world.

In the next part, we’ll discuss the application of the Bayesian Theorem in our everyday lives, seeing how it becomes a divine tool aiding our decision-making.

The Bayesian Theorem: A Wise Tool for Everyday Decisions

Having seen the Bayesian Theorem’s magical application in games, how does this “divine abacus” operate in our daily lives? Let me take you through some examples to discover its practical utility.

Bayesian Theorem in Daily Decision-Making

Imagine you’re deciding whether to take an umbrella when you leave the house. You glance outside, and the sky looks cloudy. At this point, you might consider the weather forecast to update your decision. If the forecast says there’s an 80% chance of rain, you’re likely to take that umbrella. This decision-making process is an actual application of the Bayesian Theorem: you’re updating your judgment (to take the umbrella or not) based on new information (the weather forecast).

Investment and Business Applications

Similarly, in investment and business decisions, the Bayesian Theorem plays a crucial role. For instance, an entrepreneur deciding whether to invest in a new project would consider market research reports, industry trends, and past experiences. As new information emerges, they use the Bayesian Theorem to continuously adjust their investment strategy for optimal benefit.

Small Choices in Life

Even in the seemingly insignificant choices of our daily lives, like deciding what to have for dinner, the Bayesian Theorem quietly works its magic. You might decide based on your mood for the day, recent eating habits, and how you’re feeling physically — all forms of gathering new information to update your choice.

Through these examples, we see that the Bayesian Theorem is not just an abstract theory limited to mathematics or science; it’s a significant part of the decision-making process in our daily lives. It’s like a divine weapon in our hands, helping us navigate a world full of uncertainties and make more informed, rational decisions.

As Marxism emphasizes, we should view the world through a dynamic and developmental lens. The Bayesian Theorem exemplifies this mindset: teaching us how to adjust and optimize our understanding and actions under the guidance of new information. It’s not just a mathematical calculation but an art of wise living.

Embrace Change, Master the Future

As the volume of information in our lives continues to grow, learning how to process this information and make rational decisions in a changing environment becomes increasingly important. The Bayesian Theorem not only provides us with a powerful tool for handling information but also teaches us a new way of thinking.

Armed with this divine abacus, we can use the Bayesian Theorem to understand the variations in life, facing the future with more confidence and wisdom. Let’s learn and apply this dynamic, developmental way of thinking, embracing every change in life, and taking control of our future.

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Renda Zhang
Renda Zhang

Written by Renda Zhang

A Software Developer with a passion for Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence.

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