The Sweep of ProbabilityThe Sweep of Probability broadly surveys this burgeoning field of philosophical inquiry. The book is unique because it engages the reader in contemporary debates about a variety of issues in probability theory without requiring a background in probability and mathematics. It also illustrates how the concerns of probability relate not only to philosophical inquiry but to aspects of everyday life. The primary aim of this book, claims George N.Schlesinger in the introduction, is to illustrate, by discussing a wide variety of topics, that elementary probability belongs to one of those rare intellectual ventures where the returns are disproportionately high to the initial investment of effort. |
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alternatives anthropic principle argument ascribe assertion assign assume assumption Axiom B-squares Bayes's Theorem believe blue cabs cards chance claim color conclusion conditional probability confirms h context course credibility criterion definition degree of confirmation deontic logic disjunction disk e₁ equal equation equipossible equiprobable event evidence example exist explanandum explanation F₁ face fact factors favorable Fred frequency given grounds grue happens hence Horwich hypothesis implies improbable independent indicative conditional inductive inductive reasoning instance involved irrelevant Kyburg Laplacian Lewis's marbles merely objection observed obtained outcome P(Fa philosophers player possible postulate precisely prediction Principle of Indifference prior probability probabilistic probability of H probability theory problem of induction proposition question R₁ raises the probability random ratio reason regard relative relevant Rule of Elimination sample class scientific scientists seems sequence situation squares statistically independent Suppose surely theory tion true witness zero