antivulnerability

The only way to survive in an uncertain world.

Originally titled "Things that gain from disorder."

This is a straightforward title since anti-fragility is a concept that focuses on the amount of benefit gained from uncertainty

fragility

Robust

antifragile

Mathematical Definition of Anti-Fragility

Unlike risk, which is linked to psychological notions such as subjective preferences (hence cannot apply to a coffee cup) we offer a measure that is universal and concerns any object that has a probability distribution (whether such distribution is known or, critically, unknown).

We propose a detection of fragility, robustness, and antifragility using a single “fast-and-frugal”, model-free, probability free heuristic that also picks up exposure to model error. The heuristic lends itself to immediate implementation, and uncovers hidden risks related to company size, forecasting problems, and bank tail exposures (it explains the forecasting biases). While simple to implement, it outperforms stress testing and other such methods such as Value-at-Risk.

https://gyazo.com/54b243b6cad056d4c8dc665caa0be55a

Traditionally, uncertainty has been considered "harmful"

We have been calling those that suffer more harm from uncertainty "fragile" and those that suffer less "robust".

But uncertainty has benefits as well as harms

The greater gain from uncertainty is called "anti-fragility."

optionality

A worthwhile story for options.

p.269

Playing it safe in some areas (= robust against negative black swans)

Take lots of limited risk in another area to get a big profit from a big win (= leave a positive black swan)

This makes it anti-fragile.

Taleb's 2007 book, "Black Swan: The Nature of Uncertainty and Risk," sold 1.5 million copies in the United States after the Lehman Brothers collapse, which was triggered by the subprime mortgage meltdown.

Taleb says anti-fragility means having options. Options are what make us anti-fragile. With options, we can benefit from the positive side of uncertainty without being seriously harmed by the negative side of uncertainty.

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