A Plea for Plausibility - Toward a Comparative Decision Theory

This book develops an original theory of decision-making based on the concept of plausibility. The author advocates plausible reasoning as a general philosophical method and demonstrates how it can be applied to problems in argumentation theory, scientific theory choice, risk management, ethics, law, economics, and epistemology.

List of contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
2. A plausibility primer
3. Credence for conclusions
4. Plausibility and decision theory
5. Theory choice and theory diagnosis in science
6. Reasoning about risk
7. Coping with moral uncertainty
8. Plausible inference in legal contest
9. When Econs are human
10. In search of philosophical method
11. Epilogue: Behind and beyond

Index

About the author

John R. Welch is Professor Emeritus at Saint Louis University – Madrid Campus. He is the author of Moral Strata: Another Approach to Reflective Equilibrium and numerous articles and book chapters in specialized publications. He is also the editor of Other Voices: Readings in Spanish Philosophy.

Summary

This book develops an original theory of decision-making based on the concept of plausibility. The author advocates plausible reasoning as a general philosophical method and demonstrates how it can be applied to problems in argumentation theory, scientific theory choice, risk management, ethics, law, economics, and epistemology.

Product details

• Authors: John R. Welch, Welch John R.
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 26.08.2024
• EAN: 9781032402901
• ISBN: 978-1-032-40290-1
• No. of pages: 258
• Weight: 490 g
• Illustrations: Tabellen, schwarz-weiss
• Series: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, PHILOSOPHY / Logic, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: logic, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge