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. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 6 |
CONDITIONAL PROBABILITY AND DEPENDENCE | 19 |
THE USEFULNESS OF THE RULE OF ELIMINATION | 35 |
Copyright | |
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according alternatives amount anthropic principle argument ascribe assertion assign assume assumption Axiom B-squares Bayes's Theorem believe Bernoulli's Theorem blue cabs chance claim coin confirms h context course credibility criterion D₁ definition degree of confirmation deontic logic disjunction E₁ equal equation equipossible equiprobable event evidence example exist explanandum explanation fact false favorable Fred frequency given grue hand happens hence Horwich hypothesis implies improbable independent inductive inductive reasoning irrelevant Kyburg Laplace Laplacian Lehrer marbles merely Modus Ponens objection observed obtained outcome P(Fa Paul Horwich philosophers possible postulate precisely prediction Principle of Indifference prior probability probabilistic probability of H probability theory problem of induction proposition provides question R₁ raises the probability random ratio reason regard regardless relative relevant rule sample class scientific scientists seems sequence situation Suppose surely tion trial true truth value Ve/e witness zero