Re: Off Topic: Pathological

[Rick Jelliffe <ricko@allette.com.au>]

One sends blood samples to the pathology lab.  where it may be tested for
pathogen by a pathologist.  So the use is analogical with medical use.  My
dear old Dad (a doctor) would sometimes talk about a disease's pathology,
meaning what "its" effect is. A pathological input would be an input which
acts like a pathogen in an otherwise good system and produces an
unwanted/unplanned/undesirable effect.   (To remember the spelling I always
have to remember the pronunciation of pathOlogy.)

This is, of course, why theoretical studies such as Kawaguchi-san's are so
useful: theory can help us know the characteristics of algorithms and
systems and so anticipate many pathological cases.

Cheers,
Rick Jelliffe