Probability and inductive logic / Antony Eagle.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Eagle, Antony, 1976- author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in philosophy and logic, 2516-418X.

Cambridge elements. Elements in philosophy and logic, 2516-418X

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Probabilities.

Induction (Logic).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (93 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Summary:

Reasoning from inconclusive evidence, or 'induction', is central to science and any applications we make of it. For that reason alone it demands the attention of philosophers of science. This element explores the prospects of using probability theory to provide an inductive logic: a framework for representing evidential support. Constraints on the ideal evaluation of hypotheses suggest that the overall standing of a hypothesis is represented by its probability in light of the total evidence, and incremental support, or confirmation, indicated by the hypothesis having a higher probability conditional on some evidence than it does unconditionally. This proposal is shown to have the capacity to reconstruct many canons of the scientific method and inductive inference. Along the way, significant objections are discussed, such as the challenge of inductive scepticism, and the objection that the probabilistic approach makes evidential support arbitrary.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 28 Jan 2025).

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781009210157

1009210157

9781009210164

1009210165

9781009210171

1009210173