
The Place of Probability in Science
In Honor of Ellery Eells (1953-2006)
Springer (Publisher)
Published on 24. June 2010
Book
Hardback
XLIV, 368 pages
978-90-481-3614-8 (ISBN)
Description
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.
More details
Series
Edition
2010 ed.
Language
English
Place of publication
Dordrecht
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
XLIV, 368 p.
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
739 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-481-3614-8 (9789048136148)
DOI
10.1007/978-90-481-3615-5
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
09/2012
Springer
€192.59
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
06/2010
1st Edition
Springer
€181.89
Available for download
Content
ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS OF PROBABILITY.- Probabilistic Causality and Causal Generalizations.- Probabilistic Causality and Causal Generalizations.- The Possibility of Infinitesimal Chances.- Probabilistic Metaphysics.- THE OBJECTIVITY OF MACRO-PROBABILITIES.- Chance and Necessity.- Evolutionary Theory and the Reality of Macro-Probabilities.- Is Evolution An Optimizing Process?.- PROBABILITIES AS EXPLANATORY PROPERTIES.- Propensity Trajectories, Preemption, and the Identity of Events.- Miraculous Consilience of Quantum Mechanics.- Probability and Objectivity in Deterministic and Indeterministic Situations.- PROBABILITIES IN INFERENCE AND DECISION.- How Bayesian Confirmation Theory Handles the Paradox of the Ravens.- Learning to Network.- Probabilities in Decision Rules.- Propensities and Frequencies.