Conglomerability, disintegrability and the comparative principle. (13th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stewart, Rush T; Nielsen, Michael
• Is Part Of: Analysis. Volume 81:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2021-09-13
• Subjects: Conglomerability -- disintegrability -- comparative principle -- countable additivity -- finite additivity; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1093/analys/anab012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2638

Abstract

Abstract: Our aim here is to present a result that connects some approaches to justifying countable additivity. This result allows us to better understand the force of a recent argument for countable additivity due to Easwaran. We have two main points. First, Easwaran's argument in favour of countable additivity should have little persuasive force on those permissive probabilists who have already made their peace with violations of conglomerability. As our result shows, Easwaran's main premiss – the comparative principle – is strictly stronger than conglomerability (and equivalent to disintegrability). Second, with the connections between the comparative principle and other probabilistic concepts clearly in view, we point out that opponents of countable additivity can still make a case that countable additivity is an arbitrary stopping point between finite and full additivity.