Confirmation and Reduction: A Bayesian Account

Dizadji-Bahmani, Foad; Frigg, Roman und Hartmann, Stephan (2011): Confirmation and Reduction: A Bayesian Account. In: Synthese, Bd. 179, Nr. 2: S. 321-338

Abstract

Various scientific theories stand in a reductive relation to each other. In a recent article, we have argued that a generalized version of the Nagel-Schaffner model (GNS) is the right account of this relation. In this article, we present a Bayesian analysis of how GNS impacts on confirmation. We formalize the relation between the reducing and the reduced theory before and after the reduction using Bayesian networks, and thereby show that, post-reduction, the two theories are confirmatory of each other. We then ask when a purported reduction should be accepted on epistemic grounds. To do so, we compare the prior and posterior probabilities of the conjunction of both theories before and after the reduction and ask how well each is confirmed by the available evidence.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Keywords: Nagelian reduction; Bayesian epistemology; Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; Bayesian network models
• Fakultät: Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) ; Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) > Philosophy of Science
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 100 Philosophie
• ISSN: 0039-7857
• Sprache: Englisch