Error

Erroneousness
Falseness
Hallucination
Illogic
Incorrectness
Indiscretion
Lapse
Misbelief
Misconception
Misstatement
Mistake
Misuse
Oversight

Nature

An error is a deviation from accuracy, correctness, or expected outcome, often resulting in a problem within a system, process, or activity. Errors can occur due to human mistakes, faulty equipment, miscommunication, or flawed procedures. In computing, an error typically refers to a malfunction or incorrect result caused by software bugs, hardware failures, or user input. In mathematics and science, errors represent the difference between a measured or calculated value and the true value. Identifying and correcting errors is essential to ensure reliability, safety, and efficiency in various fields, including engineering, medicine, and information technology.

Background

The significance of error as a global concern emerged with the rise of complex systems in science, technology, and governance during the 20th century. High-profile disasters—such as the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident and the 1986 Challenger explosion—highlighted the catastrophic consequences of undetected or unmitigated errors. These events spurred international efforts to systematically study, classify, and manage error, leading to the development of specialized disciplines like human factors engineering and error management theory.

Incidence

Errors occur across all sectors and disciplines, contributing to significant global consequences in healthcare, engineering, finance, and information technology. The World Health Organization estimates that medication errors alone cause at least one death every day and injure 1.3 million people annually in the United States. In aviation, the International Air Transport Association reports that human error is a factor in over 80% of accidents worldwide, underscoring the pervasive and costly nature of this problem.
In 2022, a major software error at the Toronto Stock Exchange caused a trading halt that lasted several hours, disrupting financial markets and affecting thousands of investors and companies.

Claim

Error is a critical and pervasive problem that cannot be underestimated. In every field—medicine, engineering, finance, and technology—errors can lead to catastrophic consequences, including loss of life, financial ruin, and the collapse of systems we rely on daily. Ignoring the significance of error is reckless and irresponsible. We must prioritize error detection, prevention, and correction if we are to ensure safety, progress, and trust in our increasingly complex world.

Counter-claim

As John Milton observed in his 1644 pamphlet, Areopagitica, contending with error is an intrinsic part of learning and discovery. We literally learn by making mistakes and correcting them. If free speech is suppressed for the objective of preventing the propagation of erroneous thought, it will become extremely difficult if not impossible for people to learn and discover.

Error

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Counter-claim

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Narrower

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SDG

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