Philosophy of Probability [Hardcover]

Probability is increasingly important for our understanding of the world. What is probability? How do we model it, and how do we use it? Timothy Childers presents a lively introduction to the foundations of probability and to philosophical issues it raises. He keeps technicalities to a minimum, and assumes no prior knowledge of the subject.Probability is increasingly important for our understanding of the world. What is probability? How do we model it, and how do we use it? Timothy Childers presents a lively introduction to the foundations of probability and to philosophical issues it raises. He keeps technicalities to a minimum, and assumes no prior knowledge of the subject. He explains the main interpretations of probability--frequentist, propensity, classical, Bayesian, and objective Bayesian--and uses stimulating examples to bring the subject to life. All students of philosophy will benefit from an understanding of probability, and this is the book to provide it.Preface1. Probability and Relative Frequencies2. Propensities and Other Physical Probabilities3. Subjective Probability4. Subjective and Objective Probabilities5. The Classical and Logical Interpretations6. The Maximum Entropy PrincipleAppendicesReferencesTimothy Childerswas born in Louisiana. After an undergraduate education at Louisiana State University, he obtained his doctorate from the London School of Economics. He then moved to Prague where he has ever since been a member of the Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.What is probability? How do we model it, and how do we use it? Timothy Childers presents a lively introduction to the foundations of probability and to philosophical issues it raises.