On probabilism and induction

✍ Scribed by John Hosack

• Book ID: 104639058
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 168 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0167-7411
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00141342

✦ Synopsis

R. C. Jeffrey has proposed probabilism as a solution to Hume's problem of justifying induction. This paper shows that the assumptions of his Estimation Theorem, used to justify induction, can be weakened to provide a more satisfactory interpretation. It is also questioned whether the use of probabilism adds significantly to our understanding (or even Hume's understanding) of the problem of induction. Jeffrey (1986) proposes probabilism as a solution to Hume's problem of justifying induction. This paper has two points. The first is to show that the assumptions of his Estimation Theorem, used to justify induction, can be weakened to provide a more satisfactory interpretation. The second point is to question whether the use of probabilism adds significantly to our understanding (or even Hume's understanding) of the problem of induction.