Abstract
The objective Bayesian view is considered in relation to philosophy and philosophy of science. Carnap’s distinction between logical and factual probabilities is rejected, as is an anti-Bayesian argument due to Popper. Reasons for the confusion are advanced. Inductive philosophy of science is defended, and a tentative methodology proposed. Four prominent anti-inductivists are analysed: Popper, Lakatos, Kuhn and Feyerabend. Popper is shown to have been misled by the problem of improper priors, in hypothesis space; his deductive doctrine of falsifiability is replaced by the inductive one of testability. Kuhn’s view that successive theories do not approach any kind of limit is criticised, and is traced to his rejection of induction. It is concluded that deductive methodologies of science are untenable, and that inductive methodology is sound.
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References and Notes
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Garrett, A.J.M. (1989). Probability, Philosophy and Science: A briefing for Bayesians. In: Skilling, J. (eds) Maximum Entropy and Bayesian Methods. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7860-8_7
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