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The Place of Probability in Science

In Honor of Ellery Eells (1953-2006)

  • Book
  • © 2010

Overview

Editors:
  1. Ellery Eells

    1. Dordrecht, Netherlands

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. J.H. Fetzer

    1. Dept. Philosophy, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Comprehensive overview about the place of probability in science
  • Explanation of the role of probability in evolutionary theory and quantum mechanics
  • New contribution from renowned philosophers as Elliott Sober, Ellery Eels and James H. Fetzer
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science (BSPS, volume 284)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xliii
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  2. ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS OF PROBABILITY

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 46-46
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    2. Probabilistic Causality and Causal Generalizations

      • Ellery Eells
      Pages 3-44

    3. Probabilistic Causality and Causal Generalizations

      • Daniel M. Hausman
      Pages 47-63

    4. The Possibility of Infinitesimal Chances

      • Martin Barrett
      Pages 65-79

    5. Probabilistic Metaphysics

      • James H. Fetzer
      Pages 81-98

  3. THE OBJECTIVITY OF MACRO-PROBABILITIES

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 100-100
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    2. Chance and Necessity

      • Wolfgang Spohn
      Pages 101-131

    3. Evolutionary Theory and the Reality of Macro-Probabilities

      • Elliott Sober
      Pages 133-161

    4. Is Evolution An Optimizing Process?

      • James H. Fetzer
      Pages 163-177

  4. PROBABILITIES AS EXPLANATORY PROPERTIES

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 180-180
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    2. Propensity Trajectories, Preemption, and the Identity of Events

      • Ellery Eells
      Pages 181-199

    3. Miraculous Consilience of Quantum Mechanics

      • Malcolm R. Forster
      Pages 201-228

    4. Probability and Objectivity in Deterministic and Indeterministic Situations

      • James H. Fetzer
      Pages 229-244

  5. PROBABILITIES IN INFERENCE AND DECISION

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 246-246
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    2. How Bayesian Confirmation Theory Handles the Paradox of the Ravens

      • Branden Fitelson, James Hawthorne
      Pages 247-275

    3. Learning to Network

      • Brian Skyrms, Robin Pemantle
      Pages 277-287

    4. Probabilities in Decision Rules

      • Paul Weirich
      Pages 289-319

    5. Propensities and Frequencies

      • James H. Fetzer
      Pages 323-351

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 353-368
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Keywords

About this book

Science aims at the discovery of general principles of special kinds that are applicable for the explanation and prediction of the phenomena of the world in the form of theories and laws. When the phenomena themselves happen to be general, the principlesinvolved assume the form of theories; and when they are p- ticular, they assume the form of general laws. Theories themselves are sets of laws and de nitions that apply to a common domain, which makes laws indispensable to science. Understanding science thus depends upon understanding the nature of theories and laws, the logical structure of explanations and predictions based upon them, and the principles of inference and decision that apply to theories and laws. Laws and theories can differ in their form as well as in their content. The laws of quantum mechanics are indeterministic (or probabilistic), for example, while those of classical mechanics are deterministic (or universal) instead. The history of science re ects an increasing role for probabilities as properties of the world but also as measures of evidential support and as degrees of subjective belief. Our purpose is to clarify and illuminate the place of probability in science.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Dordrecht, Netherlands

    Ellery Eells

  • Dept. Philosophy, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA

    J.H. Fetzer

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