• Title of article

    Arguments for–or against–Probabilism?

  • Author/Authors

    Alan H´ajek، نويسنده ,

  • Issue Information
    روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2008
  • Pages
    27
  • From page
    793
  • To page
    819
  • Abstract
    Four important arguments for probabilism—the Dutch Book, representation theorem, calibration, and gradational accuracy arguments—have a strikingly similar structure. Each begins with a mathematical theorem, a conditional with an existentially quantified consequent, of the general form: if your credences are not probabilities, then there is a way in which your rationality is impugned. Each argument concludes that rationality requires your credences to be probabilities. I contend that each argument is invalid as formulated. In each case there is a mirror-image theorem and a corresponding argument of exactly equal strength that concludes that rationality requires your credences not to be probabilities. Some further consideration is needed to break this symmetry in favour of probabilism. I discuss the extent to which the original arguments can be buttressed.
  • Journal title
    The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
  • Serial Year
    2008
  • Journal title
    The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
  • Record number

    708494