Accuracy and Probabilism in Infinite Domains. Issue 526 (21st March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nielsen, Michael
• Is Part Of: Mind. Volume 132:Issue 526(2023)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 427
• Publication Date: 2023-03-21
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy; Periodicals; 190.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mind/fzac053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4423

Abstract

Abstract: The best accuracy arguments for probabilism apply only to credence functions with finite domains, that is, credence functions that assign credence to at most finitely many propositions. This is a significant limitation. It reveals that the support for the accuracy-first programme in epistemology is a lot weaker than it seems at first glance, and it means that accuracy arguments cannot yet accomplish everything that their competitors, the pragmatic (Dutch book) arguments, can. In this paper, I investigate the extent to which this limitation can be overcome. Building on the best arguments in finite domains, I present two accuracy arguments for probabilism that are perfectly general—they apply to credence functions with arbitrary domains. I then discuss how the arguments' premisses can be challenged. We will see that it is particularly difficult to characterize admissible accuracy measures in infinite domains.