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Subjective qualitative information structures based on orderings

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Abstract

This paper is motivated by the following question: Can one axiomatize information first and then probability in terms of information rather than vice versa as suggested by information theory?

The emphasis here is on a new methodological approach toward a conceptualization of behavioral information which might be better suited for inferences involving nonrepeatable events or an insufficient number of repeatable events, based on the assumption that information is prior to probability statements.

The main idea is to generate (via a Boolean homorphism) a Boolean algebra of events by an appropriate information structure and to utilize the notion of a topogeneous order similar to that of a Boolean order.

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Paper presented to the N. A. Winter Meetings of the Econometric Society, New Orleans, Dec. 27–29, 1971. I am indebted to J. Marschak, C. B. McGuire, R. Savage and A. Zellner for helpful comments. Conversations with Y. Bar-Hillel on this matter during my visit to Hebrew University, Jerusalem, were very helpful.

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Göttinger, HW. Subjective qualitative information structures based on orderings. Theor Decis 5, 69–97 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140301

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