Learning from Conditionals. Issue 514 (19th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eva, Benjamin; Hartmann, Stephan; Rad, Soroush Rafiee
• Is Part Of: Mind. Volume 129:Issue 514(2020)
• Page Start: 461
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2019-06-19
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy; Periodicals; 190.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mind/fzz025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4423

Abstract

Abstract: In this article, we address a major outstanding question of probabilistic Bayesian epistemology: how should a rational Bayesian agent update their beliefs upon learning an indicative conditional? A number of authors have recently contended that this question is fundamentally underdetermined by Bayesian norms, and hence that there is no single update procedure that rational agents are obliged to follow upon learning an indicative conditional. Here we resist this trend and argue that a core set of widely accepted Bayesian norms is sufficient to identify a normatively privileged updating procedure for this kind of learning. Along the way, we justify a privileged formalization of the notion of 'epistemic conservativity', offer a new analysis of the Judy Benjamin problem, and emphasize the distinction between interpreting the content of new evidence and updating one's beliefs on the basis of that content.