Filled with students and faculty, the Atchafalaya Room of the Union had standing room only for Nassim Taleb’s presentation Friday.
Taleb, an essayist, philosopher and financial trader, is author of the renowned book “Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets,” which has been published in 17 languages. He is a native of Lebanon and holds a Ph.D. in financial mathematics from the University of Paris.
Taleb is not on a lecture circuit, and he receives almost 140 lecture invitations each year. Taleb said he picks only those who he considers “thoughtful and thinking audiences.”
Throughout his presentation, Taleb put grins on his audience’s faces with his analogies of the randomness in today’s society. He explained how society looks for fitting explanations for life’s questions and refuse randomness because people are looking for a pattern.
“He said the stuff we believe in eloquently and entertainingly,” said Donald Chance, finance professor.
Taleb reminded the audience that people have a tendency to look at what they know rather than what they don’t know because we are fooled by randomness.
“Everything you have learned is statistics.” he said. “Watch out not to have a one-sided story.”
Many professors agreed with his points.
“It was fantastic. Excellent presentation about the real world,” said William Lane, chair of the Department of Finance.
The event was sponsored by Commonwealth Advisors and hosted by the Department of Finance, Student Finance Association and E.J. Ourso College of Business.
 
 
Contact Samantha Walker at [email protected]