Beyond Chance and Credence - A Theory of Hybrid Probabilities

Beyond Chance and Credence introduces a new way of thinking of probabilities in science that combines physical and epistemic considerations. Myrvold shows that conceiving of probabilities in this way solves puzzles associated with the use of probability and statistical mechanics.

List of contents

• Preface


• 1: The Puzzle of Predictability


• 2: Two Senses of Probability


• 3: Two Non-senses of Probability


• 4: What could a Natural Measure be?


• 5: Epistemic Chances, or Almost-Objective Probabilities


• 6: Thermodynamics: The Science of Heat and Work


• 7: Statistical Mechanics: The Basics


• 8: Probabilities in Statistical Mechanics


• 9: Probabilities in Quantum Mechanics


• 10: Epilogue


• Appendix: Probability Basics

About the author

Wayne C. Myrvold is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario, where he has been a faculty member since 1997. He received his PhD at Boston University under the supervision of Judson Webb and Abner Shimony. His work has focussed on philosophy of physics and on confirmation theory. He has served as an editor for Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics since 2010, and has been subject editor for Quantum Mechanics for The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy since 2009.

Summary

Beyond Chance and Credence introduces a new way of thinking of probabilities in science that combines physical and epistemic considerations. Myrvold shows that conceiving of probabilities in this way solves puzzles associated with the use of probability and statistical mechanics.

Additional text

Beyond Chance and Credence makes a clear contribution to understanding the relationship between probability theory and physics. Probability has proved to be an especially obstreperous field for mathematical philosophy.

Product details

• Authors: Wayne C. Myrvold, Wayne C. (Professor of Philosophy Myrvold, Wayne C. (The University of Western Ontar Myrvold, Wayne C. (The University of Western Ontario) Myrvold, Myrvold Wayne C.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 28.02.2021
• EAN: 9780198865094
• ISBN: 978-0-19-886509-4
• No. of pages: 304
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics, SCIENCE / Physics / General, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge