On the proximity of the logical and 'Objective Bayesian' interpretations of probability
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Erkenntnis
Publication Date
11-1-2008
Volume
69
Issue
3
First Page
335
Last Page
349
Abstract
In his Bayesian Nets and Causality, Jon Williamson presents an ‘Objective Bayesian’ interpretation of probability, which he endeavours to distance from the logical interpretation yet associate with the subjective interpretation. In doing so, he suggests that the logical interpretation suffers from severe epistemological problems that do not affect his alternative. In this paper, I present a challenge to his analysis. First, I closely examine the relationship between the logical and ‘Objective Bayesian’ views, and show how, and why, they are highly similar. Second, I argue that the logical interpretation is not manifestly inferior, at least for the reasons that Williamson offers. I suggest that the key difference between the logical and ‘Objective Bayesian’ views is in the domain of the philosophy of logic; and that the genuine disagreement appears to be over Platonism versus nominalism (within weak psychologism).
DOI
10.1007/s10670-008-9117-y
Print ISSN
01650106
E-ISSN
15728420
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Rowbottom, D. P. (2008). On the proximity of the logical and 'Objective Bayesian' interpretations of probability. Erkenntnis, 69(3), 335-349. doi: 10.1007/s10670-008-9117-y