PhilSci Archive

Piecewise Versus Total Support: How to Deal with Background Information in Likelihood Arguments

Jantzen, Benjamin (2012) Piecewise Versus Total Support: How to Deal with Background Information in Likelihood Arguments. In: [2012] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 23rd Biennial Mtg (San Diego, CA) > PSA 2012 Contributed Papers.

This is the latest version of this item.

[img]
Preview
 PDF - Updated Version
Download (222Kb) | Preview

    Abstract

    The use of the Likelihood Principle as a general tool for assessing rival hypotheses has been criticized for its ambiguous treatment of background information. The LP endorses radically different answers depending on what information is designated as background versus evidence. I argue that once one distinguishes between two questions about evidentiary support, the ambiguity vanishes. I demonstrate this resolution by applying it to a debate over the status of the ‘fine-tuning argument’.

    Export/Citation:EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
    Social Networking:
    Share |
    Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
    Additional Information: Comments welcome.
    Keywords: likelihood, fine-tuning, background information, observation selection effect, total evidence
    Subjects: General Issues > Confirmation/Induction
    Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
    General Issues > Science and Religion
    Conferences and Volumes: [2012] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 23rd Biennial Mtg (San Diego, CA) > PSA 2012 Contributed Papers
    Depositing User: Benjamin Jantzen
    Date Deposited: 12 Nov 2012 23:52
    Last Modified: 12 Nov 2012 23:52
    Item ID: 9439
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9439

    Available Versions of this Item

    Actions (login required)

    		 View Item

    Document Downloads