0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R100 - R250 (120)
  • R250 - R500 (447)
  • R500+ (3,806)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Logic

The Logical Foundations of the Marxian Theory of Value (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992): Adolfo... The Logical Foundations of the Marxian Theory of Value (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992)
Adolfo Garcia De La Sienra
R2,938 Discovery Miles 29 380 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Mter the impressive collapseoftheSovietUnionand the Eastern European socialist countries, it is more pertinent than ever to recover the scientific legacy ofKarl Marx. This legacy is mainly (if not exclusively) constituted by his work in the field of eco- nomic theory. Marx's economic theory was intended by his au- thor as a scientific objective theory about the nature ofcapitalist economies, a theory that was going to serve as the foundation ofthe critique ofbourgeois political economy. His "laws" about the demise ofcapitalism, like the tendency ofthe profit rate to fall or the lawofthe cyclical crises, have been shown to hold un- der certain conditions but not in general. At any rate, it is likely that had not the industrialized countries changed the situation ofthe working class, and allowed some intervention ofthe State in the economy (especially after the Great Depression), capital- ism would have hardly survived, even though it is impossible to guess what kind of regime would have been instaurated in its place. The present book is concerned with the very foundations of Marx's economics, hence with the very foundations ofhis scien- tific legacy. I hope that after reading the book the reader will be convinced that Marx's scientific work was indeed serious and that this is the time to recover it as an important paradigm in INTRODUCTION 2 scientific research. I think that the reader will be convinced that Marx's economic theory is no less serious and mathematically tractable than, say, general equilibrium theory.

Paradoxes in Probability Theory (Paperback, 2013 ed.): William Eckhardt Paradoxes in Probability Theory (Paperback, 2013 ed.)
William Eckhardt
R2,180 Discovery Miles 21 800 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Paradoxes provide a vehicle for exposing misinterpretations and misapplications of accepted principles. This book discusses seven paradoxes surrounding probability theory. Some remain the focus of controversy; others have allegedly been solved, however the accepted solutions are demonstrably incorrect. Each paradox is shown to rest on one or more fallacies. Instead of the esoteric, idiosyncratic, and untested methods that have been brought to bear on these problems, the book invokes uncontroversial probability principles, acceptable both to frequentists and subjectivists. The philosophical disputation inspired by these paradoxes is shown to be misguided and unnecessary; for instance, startling claims concerning human destiny and the nature of reality are directly related to fallacious reasoning in a betting paradox, and a problem analyzed in philosophy journals is resolved by means of a computer program. "

From Discourse to Logic - Introduction to Modeltheoretic Semantics of Natural Language, Formal Logic and Discourse... From Discourse to Logic - Introduction to Modeltheoretic Semantics of Natural Language, Formal Logic and Discourse Representation Theory Part 1 (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993)
Hans Kamp, U. Reyle
R9,968 Discovery Miles 99 680 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Preface This book is about semantics and logic. More specifically, it is about the semantics and logic of natural language; and, even more specifically than that, it is about a particular way of dealing with those subjects, known as Discourse Representation Theory, or DRT. DRT is an approach towards natural language semantics which, some thirteen years ago, arose out of attempts to deal with two distinct problems. The first of those was the semantic puzzle that had been brought to contempo rary attention by Geach's notorious "donkey sentences" - sentences like If Pedro owns some donkey, he beats it, in which the anaphoric connection we perceive between the indefinite noun phrase some donkey and the pronoun it may seem to conflict with the existential meaning of the word some. The second problem had to do with tense and aspect. Some languages, for instance French and the other Romance languages, have two morphologically distinct past tenses, a simple past (the French Passe Simple) and a continuous past (the French Imparfait). To articulate precisely what the difference between these tenses is has turned out to be surprisingly difficult."

Existence and Explanation - Essays presented in Honor of Karel Lambert (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed.... Existence and Explanation - Essays presented in Honor of Karel Lambert (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1991)
W. Spohn, B. C. Van Fraassen, B. Skyrms
R4,475 Discovery Miles 44 750 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This collection of essays is dedicated to 'Joe' Karel Lambert. The contributors are all personally affected to Joe in some way or other, but they are definitely not the only ones. Whatever excuses there are - there are some -, the editors apologize to whomever they have neglected. But even so the collection displays how influential Karel Lambert has been, personally and through his teaching and his writings. The display is in alphabetical order - with one exception: Bas van Fraassen, being about the earliest student of Karel Lambert, opens the collection with some reminiscences. Naturally, one of the focal points of this volume is Lambert's logical thinking and (or: freed of) ontological thinking. Free logic is intimately connected with description theory. Bas van Fraassen gives a survey of the development of the area, and Charles Daniels points to difficulties with definite descriptions in modal contexts and stories. Peter Woodruff addresses the relation between free logic and supervaluation semantics, presenting a novel condition which recovers desirable metatheoretic properties for free logic under that semantics. Terence Parsons shows how free logic can be utilized in interpreting sentences as purporting to denote events (true ones succeed and false ones fail) and how this helps to understand natural language.

Domains and Processes - Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Domain Theory Shanghai, China, October 1999... Domains and Processes - Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Domain Theory Shanghai, China, October 1999 (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2001)
Klaus Keimel, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Ying Ming Liu, Yixiang Chen
R2,961 Discovery Miles 29 610 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Domain theory is a rich interdisciplinary area at the intersection of logic, computer science, and mathematics. This volume contains selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Domain Theory which took place in Shanghai in October 1999. Topics of papers range from the encounters between topology and domain theory, sober spaces, Lawson topology, real number computability and continuous functionals to fuzzy modelling, logic programming, and pi-calculi. This book is a valuable reference for researchers and students interested in this rapidly developing area of theoretical computer science.

Erkenntnis Orientated: A Centennial Volume for Rudolf Carnap and Hans Reichenbach (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original... Erkenntnis Orientated: A Centennial Volume for Rudolf Carnap and Hans Reichenbach (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1991)
W. Spohn
R4,543 Discovery Miles 45 430 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Rudolf Carnap was born on May 18, 1891, and Hans Reichenbach on September 26 in the same year. They are two of the greatest philosophers of this century, and they are eminent representatives of what is perhaps the most powerful contemporary philosophical movement. Moreover, they founded the journal Erkenntnis. This is ample reason for presenting, on behalf of Erkenntnis, a collection of essays in honor of them and their philosophical work. I am less sure, however, whether it is a good time for resuming their philosophical impact; their work still is rather part than historical basis of the present philosophical melting-pot. Their basic philosophical theses have currently, it may seem, not so high a standing, but their impact can be seen in numerous detailed issues; they have opened or pushed forward lively fields of research which are still very actively pursued not only within philosophy, but also in many neighboring disciplines. Whatever the present balance of opinions about their philosophical ideas, there is something even more basic in their philosophy than their tenets which is as fresh, as stimulating, as exemplary as ever. I have in mind their way of philosophizing, their conception of how to do philosophy. It is always a good time for reinforcing that conception; and if this volume would manage to do so, it would fully serve its purpose.

Problems in Set Theory, Mathematical Logic and the Theory of Algorithms (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed.... Problems in Set Theory, Mathematical Logic and the Theory of Algorithms (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2003)
G. Corsi; Igor Lavrov, Larisa Maksimova
R2,959 Discovery Miles 29 590 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Problems in Set Theory, Mathematical Logic and the Theory of Algorithms by I. Lavrov & L. Maksimova is an English translation of the fourth edition of the most popular student problem book in mathematical logic in Russian. It covers major classical topics in proof theory and the semantics of propositional and predicate logic as well as set theory and computation theory. Each chapter begins with 1-2 pages of terminology and definitions that make the book self-contained. Solutions are provided. The book is likely to become an essential part of curricula in logic.

Russell's Unknown Logicism - A Study in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics (Hardcover): S Gandon Russell's Unknown Logicism - A Study in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics (Hardcover)
S Gandon; Edited by Michael Beaney
R2,708 Discovery Miles 27 080 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

One hundred years ago, Russell and Whitehead published their epoch-making Principia Mathematica (PM), which was initially conceived as the second volume of Russell's Principles of Mathematics (PoM) that had appeared ten years before. No other works can be credited to have had such an impact on the development of logic and on philosophy in the twentieth century. However, until now, scholars only focused on the first parts of the books - that is, on Russell's and Whitehead's theory of logic, set-theory and arithmetic.
Sebastien Gandon aims at reversing the perspective. His goal is to give a picture of Russell's logicism based on a detailed reading of the developments dealing with advanced mathematics - namely projective geometry and the theory of quantity. This book is not only the first study ever made of the 'later' portions of PoM and PM, it also shows how this shift of perspective compels us to change our view of the logicist program taken as a whole.

Buddhist Logic and Epistemology - Studies in the Buddhist Analysis of Inference and Language (Paperback, Softcover reprint of... Buddhist Logic and Epistemology - Studies in the Buddhist Analysis of Inference and Language (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1986)
Bimal K. Matilal, Robert D. Evans
R4,493 Discovery Miles 44 930 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

For the first time in recent history, seventeen scholars from allover the world (India, Japan, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States) collaborated here to produce a volume containing an in-depth study of Buddhist log ical theory in the background of Buddhist epistemology. The Tibetan tradition identifies this important chapter in the history of Buddhist philosophy as the prama a school. It owes its origin to the writings of the great Buddhist master, Dih naga (circa A. D. 480-540), whose influence was to spread far beyond India, as well as to his celebrated interpreter of sev enth century A. D., Dharmakirti, whose texts presented the standard version of the school for the later Buddhist and non Buddhist authors for a long time. The history of Buddhist and Indian logical and epistemo logical theories constitutes an interesting study not only for the Buddhist scholars but also for philosophers as well as historians of philosophy in general. Each author of this anthology combines historical and philological scholarship with philosophical acumen and linguistic insight. Each of them uses original textual (Tibetan or Sanskirt) material to resolve logical issues and philosophical questions. Attention has been focused upon two crucial philosophical concepts: trairupya (the "triple" character of evidence) and apoha (meaning as "exclusion"). Broadly the issues are concerned with the problems of inductive logic and the problem of mean ing and universals."

Handbook of Philosophical Logic (Paperback, 2nd ed. 2002): Dov M. Gabbay, Franz Guenthner Handbook of Philosophical Logic (Paperback, 2nd ed. 2002)
Dov M. Gabbay, Franz Guenthner
R4,508 Discovery Miles 45 080 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

It is with great pleasure that we are presenting to the community the second edition of this extraordinary handbook. It has been over 15 years since the publication of the first edition and there have been great changes in the landscape of philosophical logic since then. The first edition has proved invaluable to generations of students and researchers in formal philosophy and language, as well as to consumers of logic in many applied areas. The main logic article in the Encyclopaedia Britannica 1999 has described the first edition as 'the best starting point for exploring any of the topics in logic'. We are confident that the second edition will prove to be just as good! The first edition was the second handbook published for the logic commu nity. It followed the North Holland one volume Handbook of Mathematical Logic, published in 1977, edited by the late Jon Barwise. The four volume Handbook of Philosophical Logic, published 1983-1989 came at a fortunate temporal junction at the evolution of logic. This was the time when logic was gaining ground in computer science and artificial intelligence circles. These areas were under increasing commercial pressure to provide devices which help and/or replace the human in his daily activity. This pressure required the use of logic in the modelling of human activity and organisa tion on the one hand and to provide the theoretical basis for the computer program constructs on the other.

Debate Dynamics: How Controversy Improves Our Beliefs (Hardcover, 2013 ed.): Gregor Betz Debate Dynamics: How Controversy Improves Our Beliefs (Hardcover, 2013 ed.)
Gregor Betz
R2,982 Discovery Miles 29 820 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Is critical argumentation an effective way to overcome disagreement? And does the exchange of arguments bring opponents in a controversy closer to the truth? This study provides a new perspective on these pivotal questions. By means of multi-agent simulations, it investigates the truth and consensus-conduciveness of controversial debates. The book brings together research in formal epistemology and argumentation theory. Aside from its consequences for discursive practice, the work may have important implications for philosophy of science and the way we construe scientific rationality as well.

New Waves in Philosophical Logic (Hardcover, 2012 ed.): G. Restall, G. Russell New Waves in Philosophical Logic (Hardcover, 2012 ed.)
G. Restall, G. Russell
R1,556 Discovery Miles 15 560 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Philosophical logic has been, and continues to be, a driving force behind much progress and development in philosophy more broadly. This collection by up-and-coming philosophical logicians deals with a broad range of topics, including, for example, proof-theory, probability, context-sensitivity, dialetheism and dynamic semantics.

Carnap's Ideal of Explication and Naturalism (Hardcover): P. Wagner, Michael Beaney Carnap's Ideal of Explication and Naturalism (Hardcover)
P. Wagner, Michael Beaney
R3,216 Discovery Miles 32 160 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book consists of a series of chapters on Carnap's ideal of explication as an alternative to the naturalistic conceptions of science, setting it in its historical context, discussing specific cases of explications, and entiching the on-going debate on conceptual engineering and naturalism in analytic philosophy.

Assertion and Conditionals (Paperback): Anthony Appiah Assertion and Conditionals (Paperback)
Anthony Appiah
R976 Discovery Miles 9 760 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book develops in detail the simple idea that assertion is the expression of belief. In it the author puts forward a version of 'probabilistic semantics' which acknowledges that we are not perfectly rational, and which offers a significant advance in generality on theories of meaning couched in terms of truth conditions. It promises to challenge a number of entrenched and widespread views about the relations of language and mind. Part I presents a functionalist account of belief, worked through a modified form of decision theory. In Part II the author generates a theory of meaning in terms of 'assertibility conditions', whereby to know the meaning of an assertion is to know the belief it expresses.

Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition (Paperback, 2012 ed.): Jean-Yves B eziau, Dale Jacquette Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition (Paperback, 2012 ed.)
Jean-Yves B eziau, Dale Jacquette
R1,601 Discovery Miles 16 010 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The theory of oppositions based on Aristotelian foundations of logic has been pictured in a striking square diagram which can be understood and applied in many different ways having repercussions in various fields: epistemology, linguistics, mathematics, sociology, physics. The square can also be generalized in other two-dimensional or multi-dimensional objects extending in breadth and depth the original Aristotelian theory.

The square of opposition from its origin in antiquity to the present day continues to exert a profound impact on the development of deductive logic. Since 10 years there is a new growing interest for the square due to recent discoveries and challenging interpretations. This book presents a collection of previously unpublished papers by high level specialists on the square from all over the world.

Argumentation Schemes (Hardcover, New): Douglas Walton, Christopher Reed, Fabrizio Macagno Argumentation Schemes (Hardcover, New)
Douglas Walton, Christopher Reed, Fabrizio Macagno
R2,551 Discovery Miles 25 510 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book provides a systematic analysis of many common argumentation schemes and a compendium of 96 schemes. The study of these schemes, or forms of argument that capture stereotypical patterns of human reasoning, is at the core of argumentation research. Surveying all aspects of argumentation schemes from the ground up, the book takes the reader from the elementary exposition in the first chapter to the latest state of the art in the research efforts to formalize and classify the schemes, outlined in the last chapter. It provides a systematic and comprehensive account, with notation suitable for computational applications that increasingly make use of argumentation schemes.

The Logic of Time - A Model-Theoretic Investigation into the Varieties of Temporal Ontology and Temporal Discourse (Paperback,... The Logic of Time - A Model-Theoretic Investigation into the Varieties of Temporal Ontology and Temporal Discourse (Paperback, 2nd ed. 1983)
Johan Van Benthem
R3,229 Discovery Miles 32 290 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

That philosophical themes could be studied in an exact manner by logical meanS was a delightful discovery to make. Until then, the only outlet for a philosophical interest known to me was the production of poetry or essays. These means of expression remain inconclusive, however, with a tendency towards profuseness. The logical discipline provides so me intellectual backbone, without excluding the literary modes. A master's thesis by Erik Krabbe introduced me to the subject of tense logic. The doctoral dissertation of Paul N eedham awaked me (as so many others) from my dogmatic slumbers concerning the latter's mono poly on the logical study of Time. Finally, a set of lecture notes by Frank Veltman showed me how classical model theory is just as relevant to that study as more exotic intensional techniques. Of the authors whose work inspired me most, I would mention Arthur Prior, for his irresistible blend of logic and philosophy, Krister Segerberg, for his technical opening up of a systematic theory, and Hans Kamp, for his mastery of all these things at once. Many colleagues have made helpful comments on the two previous versions of this text. I would like to thank especially my students Ed Brinksma, Jan van Eyck and Wilfried Meyer-Viol for their logical and cultural criticism. The drawings were contributed by the versatile Bauke Mulder. Finally, Professor H intikka's kind appreciation provided the stimulus to write this book."

Structural Proof Theory (Paperback): Sara Negri, Jan von Plato Structural Proof Theory (Paperback)
Sara Negri, Jan von Plato; Appendix by Aarne Ranta
R1,238 Discovery Miles 12 380 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Structural proof theory is a branch of logic that studies the general structure and properties of logical and mathematical proofs. This book is both a concise introduction to the central results and methods of structural proof theory, and a work of research that will be of interest to specialists. The book is designed to be used by students of philosophy, mathematics and computer science. The book contains a wealth of results on proof-theoretical systems, including extensions of such systems from logic to mathematics, and on the connection between the two main forms of structural proof theory - natural deduction and sequent calculus. The authors emphasize the computational content of logical results. A special feature of the volume is a computerized system for developing proofs interactively, downloadable from the web and regularly updated.

Infinite Regress Arguments (Paperback, 2009 ed.): Claude Gratton Infinite Regress Arguments (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
Claude Gratton
R2,957 Discovery Miles 29 570 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Infinite regresses (e.g., event3 caused event2, event2 caused event1, ad infinitum; statement3 justifies statement2, statement2 justifies statement1, ad infinitum) have been used as premises in arguments on a great variety of topics in both Eastern and Western philosophy since ancient times. They are part of a philosopher's tool kit of argumentation. But how sharp or strong is this tool? How effectively is it used? The typical presentation of infinite regress arguments throughout history is so succinct and has so many gaps that it is often unclear how an infinite regress is derived, and why an infinite regress is logically problematic, and as a result, it is often difficult to evaluate infinite regress arguments. These prevalent consequences indicate that there is a need for a theory to re-orient our practice. After well over two thousand years of using infinite regresses as premises, one would have expected that at least some theory of infinite regress arguments would have emerged. None exists. There have been only a few articles on infinite regress arguments, but they are based on the examination of only a small number of examples, discuss only a few logical or rhetorical aspects of infinite regress arguments, and so they help to meet the need for a theory in only a limited way.

Given the situation, I examined many infinite regress arguments to clarify the various aspects of the derivation of infinite regresses, and explain the different ways in which certain infinite regresses are unacceptable. My general approach consisted of collecting and evaluating as many infinite regress arguments as possible, comparing and contrasting many of the formal and non-formal properties, looking for recurring patterns, and identifying the properties that appeared essential to those patterns. The six chapters of this book gradually emerged from this approach. Two very general questions guided this work: (1) How are infinite regresses generated in infinite regress arguments? (2) How do infinite regresses logically function in an argument? In answering these questions I avoided as much as possible addressing the philosophical content and historical background of the arguments examined. Due to the already extensive work done on causal regresses and regresses of justification, only a few references are made to them. However, the focus is on other issues that have been neglected, and that do contribute to a general theory of infinite regress arguments: I clarify the notion of an infinite regress; identify different logical forms of infinite regresses; describe different kinds of infinite regress arguments; distinguish the rhetoric from the logic in infinite regress arguments; and discuss the function of infinite regresses in arguments. The unexamined derivation of infinite regresses is worth deriving to discover what we have kept hidden from ourselves, improve our ways of constructing and evaluating these arguments, and sharpen and strengthen one of our argumentative tools. This work is one example of empirical logic applied to infinite regress arguments: "the attempt to formulate, to test, to clarify, and to systematize concepts and principles for the interpretation, the evaluation, and the sound practice of reasoning" (Finocchiaro, M. Arguments about Arguments, Systematic, Critical and Historical Essays in Logical Theory. P48). "

Informal Logic - A Pragmatic Approach (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition): Douglas Walton Informal Logic - A Pragmatic Approach (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition)
Douglas Walton
R2,535 Discovery Miles 25 350 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Informal Logic is an introductory guidebook to the basic principles of constructing sound arguments and criticizing bad ones. Non-technical in approach, it is based on 186 examples, which Douglas Walton, a leading authority in the field of informal logic, discusses and evaluates in clear, illustrative detail. Walton explains how errors, fallacies, and other key failures of argument occur. He shows how correct uses of argument are based on sound strategies for reasoned persuasion and critical responses. Among the many subjects covered are: forms of valid argument, defeasible arguments, relevance, appeals to emotion, personal attack, straw man argument, jumping to a conclusion, uses and abuses of expert opinion, problems in drawing conclusions from polls and statistics, loaded terms, equivocation, arguments from analogy, and techniques of posing, replying to, and criticizing questions. This new edition takes into account many new developments in the field of argumentation study that have occurred since 1989, many created by the author. Drawing on these developments, Walton includes and analyzes 36 new topical examples and also brings in recent work on argumentation schemes. Ideally suited for use in courses in informal logic and introduction to philosophy, this book will also be valuable to students of pragmatics, rhetoric, and speech communication.

Philosophy from a Skeptical Perspective (Paperback): Joseph Agassi, Abraham Meidan Philosophy from a Skeptical Perspective (Paperback)
Joseph Agassi, Abraham Meidan
R779 Discovery Miles 7 790 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

One of the questions that philosophers discuss is: How can we avoid, or at least reduce, errors when explaining the world? The skeptical answer to this question is: We cannot avoid errors since no statement is certain or even definitely plausible, but we can eliminate some past errors. This book advocates the skeptical position and discusses its practical applications in science, ethics, aesthetics, and politics. It brings philosophy down to earth and comprises an outline of a skeptical guide to the real world.

Rationality and Dynamic Choice - Foundational Explorations (Paperback): Edward F. McClennen Rationality and Dynamic Choice - Foundational Explorations (Paperback)
Edward F. McClennen
R1,186 Discovery Miles 11 860 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This is a major contribution to the theory of rational choice which will be of particular interest to philosophers and economists. The author sets out the foundations of rational choice, and then sketches a dynamic choice framework in which principles of ordering and independence follow from a number of apparently plausible conditions. However, there is potential conflict among these conditions, and when they are weakened to avoid it the usual foundations of rational choice no longer prevail. The thrust of the argument is to suggest that the theory of rational choice is less deterministic than many suppose.

Bertrand Russell and the Origins of the Set-theoretic 'Paradoxes' (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st... Bertrand Russell and the Origins of the Set-theoretic 'Paradoxes' (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992)
Garciadiego
R1,581 Discovery Miles 15 810 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Xll Russell's published works include more than sixty books, several unpublished manuscripts, many hundreds of articles, dozens of radio and TV interviews and films, covering a wide spectrum of knowledge. His writings embrace discussions and analysis of such diverse topics as social sciences, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of physics, philosophy in general, religion, moral sciences, education, pacifism, natural sciences (including biology and physics), linguistics, statistics, probability, eco nomic theory, history, politics, international affairs and other topics. He corresponded with a large and diverse group of colleagues including both prominent and obscure figures in politics, the arts, humanities and scienc es. Russell's communication with his colleagues began in the late nine teenth century and was especially active through much of the twentieth century. In spite of being one of the most controversial public personali ties of his day (let us not forget that he went to prison twice, was dis missed from Cambridge University and was prevented from teaching at the College of the City of New York), his merits have been recognized and appreciated. He was awarded many medals, diplomas and honors, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950."

Betting on Theories (Paperback): Patrick Maher Betting on Theories (Paperback)
Patrick Maher
R1,216 Discovery Miles 12 160 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book is a major new contribution to decision theory, focusing on the question of when it is rational to accept scientific theories. The author examines both Bayesian decision theory and confirmation theory, refining and elaborating the views of Ramsey and Savage. He argues that the most solid foundation for confirmation theory is to be found in decision theory, and he provides a decision-theoretic derivation of principles for how many probabilities should be revised over time. Professor Maher defines a notion of accepting a hypothesis, and then shows that it is not reducible to probability and that it is needed to deal with some important questions in the philosophy of science. A Bayesian decision-theoretic account of rational acceptance is provided together with a proof of the foundations for this theory. A final chapter shows how this account can be used to cast light on such vexing issues as verisimilitude and scientific realism.

The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Paperback): James M Joyce The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Paperback)
James M Joyce
R1,097 Discovery Miles 10 970 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book defends the view that any adequate account of rational decision making must take a decision maker's beliefs about causal relations into account. The early chapters of the book introduce the non-specialist to the rudiments of expected utility theory. The major technical advance offered by the book is a 'representation theorem' that shows that both causal decision theory and its main rival, Richard Jeffrey's logic of decision, are both instances of a more general conditional decision theory. The book solves a long-standing problem for Jeffrey's theory by showing for the first time how to obtain a unique utility and probability representation for preferences and judgements of comparative likelihood. The book also contains a major new discussion of what it means to suppose that some event occurs or that some proposition is true. The most complete and robust defence of causal decision theory available.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
From Concept to Objectivity - Thinking…
Richard Dien Winfield Paperback R1,412 Discovery Miles 14 120
Logic - Concise Edition
Stan Baronett Paperback R3,273 Discovery Miles 32 730
Paradox
Doris Olin Hardcover R4,140 Discovery Miles 41 400
Rationality - What It Is, Why It Seems…
Steven Pinker Paperback R265 R212 Discovery Miles 2 120
Critical Reasoning - A Practical…
Anne Thomson Hardcover R4,148 Discovery Miles 41 480
Logic and Philosophy Today, Volume 1
Amithabha Gupta, Johan Van Benthem Paperback R519 Discovery Miles 5 190
The Art of Reasoning - An Introduction…
David Kelley, Debby Hutchins Paperback R2,899 Discovery Miles 28 990
The Art of Logic - How to Make Sense in…
Eugenia Cheng Paperback  (1)
R350 R277 Discovery Miles 2 770
Logic, Proof and Computation
Mark Tarver Paperback R509 Discovery Miles 5 090
A Minimalist Ontology of the Natural…
Michael Esfeld, Dirk-Andre Deckert Hardcover R4,138 Discovery Miles 41 380

 

Partners