Bayesian Philosophy of Science

Stephan Hartmann author Jan Sprenger author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:23rd Aug '19

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Bayesian Philosophy of Science cover

How should we reason in science? Jan Sprenger and Stephan Hartmann offer a refreshing take on classical topics in philosophy of science, using a single key concept to explain and to elucidate manifold aspects of scientific reasoning. They present good arguments and good inferences as being characterized by their effect on our rational degrees of belief. Refuting the view that there is no place for subjective attitudes in 'objective science', Sprenger and Hartmann explain the value of convincing evidence in terms of a cycle of variations on the theme of representing rational degrees of belief by means of subjective probabilities (and changing them by Bayesian conditionalization). In doing so, they integrate Bayesian inference--the leading theory of rationality in social science--with the practice of 21st century science. Bayesian Philosophy of Science thereby shows how modeling such attitudes improves our understanding of causes, explanations, confirming evidence, and scientific models in general. It combines a scientifically minded and mathematically sophisticated approach with conceptual analysis and attention to methodological problems of modern science, especially in statistical inference, and is therefore a valuable resource for philosophers and scientific practitioners.

For anyone with a serious interest in formal methods in the philosophy of science, this book is essential reading. * James Wilson, Metascience *
Bayesian Philosophy of Science gradually raises and broaches important and fascinating questions concerning the status, foundations, and limits of Bayesianism and Bayesian inference. Reading the entirety of this rich and stimulating book, which is both accomplished and forward-looking, is therefore rewarding and highly recommended. * Isabelle Drouet, OEconomia *
Sprenger and Hartmann's Bayesian Philosophy of Science promises to become the new reference manual for all things Bayesian in the philosophy of science...For anyone with a serious interest in formal methods in the philosophy of science, this book is essential reading. * James Wilson, Metascience *
Detractors will read Sprenger and Hartmann's (hereafter S & H) Bayesian Philosophy of Science, because to my knowledge there is no other book that so effectively demonstrates the power and versatility of the Bayesian approach...The authors manage to cover a great deal of material, including material not typically discussed in introductions to Bayesian philosophy, such as the minimum divergence approach to probabilistic updating. * Olav Benjamin Vassend, Erkenntnis *

ISBN: 9780199672110

Dimensions: 240mm x 161mm x 31mm

Weight: 780g

414 pages