Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probability and explanation

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Braithwaite, R. B. [1953],Scientific Explanation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchler, J., ed. [1955],Philosophical Writings of Peirce, New York: Dover Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnap, R. [1962],Logical Foundations of Probability, 2nd ed, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffa, A. [1974], ‘Randomness and Knowledge’, inBoston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. XX, K. Schaffner and R. Cohen (eds.), Dordrecht: Holland: D. Reidel, 1974, pp. 103–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramér, H. [1946],Mathematical Methods of Statistics, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1971], ‘Dispositional Probabilities’, inBoston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. VIII, R. Buck and R. Cohen (eds.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel, 1971, pp. 473–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1974], ‘Statistical Probabilities: Single Case Propensities vs. Long Run Frequencies’, inDevelopments in the Methodology of Social Science, W. Leinfellner and E. Köhler (eds.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel, 1974, pp. 387–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1974a], ‘A Single Case Propensity Theory of Explanation’,Synthese 28 (1974), 171–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1976], ‘The Likeness of Lawlikeness’, inBoston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. XXXII, R. Cohen, C. Hooker, A. Michalos, and J. van Evra (eds.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel, 1976, pp. 377–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1977], ‘Reichenbach, Reference Classes, and Single Case “Probabilities”’,Synthese 34 (1977), 185–217. Errata,Synthese 37 (1978), 113–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1978], ‘On Mellor on Dispositions’,Philosophia 7 (1978) 651–660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. [1980],Causation, Explanation, and Corroboration: A Technical Report for the National Science Foundation (SOC-7826566).

  • Fetzer, J. H. and D. E. Nute [1979], ‘Syntax, Semantics, and Ontology: A Probabilistic Causal Calculus’,Synthese 40 (1979), 453–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer, J. H. and D. E. Nute [1980], ‘A Probabilistic Causal Calculus: Conflicting Conceptions’,Synthese 44 (1980), 241–246. Errata,Synthese 48 (1981), 493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1973], Review of Mellor'sThe Matter of Chance, Ratio 15 (1973), 149–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1973a], ‘Objective Single Case Probabilities and the Foundations of Statistics’, inLogic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science, P. Suppeset al. (eds.), Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1973, pp. 467–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1975], ‘The Epistemological Roots of Scientific Knowledge’, inMinnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. VI, G. Maxwell and R. Anderson (eds.), Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1975, pp. 212–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1976], ‘Empirical Probability, Objective Statistical Methods and Scientific Inquiry’, inFoundations of Probability Theory, Statistical Inference, and Statistical Theories of Science, Vol. II, W. Harper and C. Hooker (eds.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel, 1976, pp. 63–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1976a], ‘A Laplacean Formal Semantics for Single-Case Propensities’,Journal of Philosophical Logic 5 (1976), 321–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1977], ‘Testing vs. Information Models of Statistical Inference’, inLogic, Laws and Life, R. Colodny (ed.), Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1977, pp. 19–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, R. N. [1979], ‘Propensity and Necessity’,Synthese 40 (1979), 439–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillies, D. A. [1973],An Objective Theory of Probability, London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hacking, I. [1965],Logic of Statistical Inference, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hacking, I. [1973], ‘Propensities, Statistics, and Inductive Logic’, inLogic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science, P. Suppeset al. (eds.), Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1973, pp. 485–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel, C. G. [1965],Aspects of Scientific Explanation, New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel, C. G. [1968], ‘Maximal Specificity and Lawlikeness in Probabilistic Explanation’,Philosophy of Science 35 (1968), 116–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, P. [1977], ‘Randomness, Independence, and Hypotheses’.Synthese 36 (1977), 415–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolmogorov, A. N. [1956],Foundations of the Theory of Probability, New York: Chelsea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krüger, L. [1976], ‘Are Statistical Explanations Possible?’Philosophy of Science 43 (1976), 129–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyburg, H. E. [1965], ‘Comment’,Philosophy of Science 32 (1965), 145–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyburg, H. E. [1974], ‘Propensities and Probabilities’,British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 25 (1974), 25–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyburg, H. E. [1974a], ‘Randomness’, inBoston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. XX, K. Schaffner and R. Cohen (eds.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel, 1974, pp. 137–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, I. [1967],Gambling with Truth, New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, I. [1969], ‘Are Statistical Hypotheses Covering Laws?’Synthese 20 (1969), 297–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, I. [1973], ‘... But Fair to Chance’,Journal to Philosophy 70 (1973), 52–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, I. [1977], ‘Subjunctives, Dispositions, and Chances’,Synthese 34 (1977), 423–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, I. [1979], ‘Inductive Appraisal’, inCurrent Research in the Philosophy of Science, P. Asquith and H. Kyburg (eds.), East Lansing: Philosophy of Science Association, 1979, pp. 339–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellor, D. H. [1969], ‘Chance’,Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volume (1969), pp. 11–36.

  • Mellor, D. H. [1971],The Matter of Chance, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellor, D. H. [1974], ‘In Defense of Dispositions’,Philosophical Review 83 (1974), 157–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. R. [1957], ‘The Propensity Interpretation of the Calculus of Probability, and the Quantum Theory’, inObservation and Interpretation in the Philosophy of Physics, S. Körner (ed.), New York: Dover Publications, 1957, pp. 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. R. [1959], ‘The Propensity Interpretation of Probability’,British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 10 (1959), 25–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quine, W. V. O. [1974],The Roots of Reference, La Salle, Illinois: Open Court.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichenbach, H. [1949],The Theory of Probability, Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, W. C. [1965], ‘The Status of Prior Probabilities in Statistical Explanation’,Philosophy of Science 32 (1965), 137–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, W. C. [1977], ‘Objectively Homogeneous Reference Classes’,Synthese 36 (1977), 399–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, W. C. [1979], ‘Propensities: A Discussion Review’,Erkenntnis 14 (1979), 183–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sklar, L. [1974], Review of Mellor'sThe Matter of Chance, Journal of Philosophy 71 (1974), 418–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stegmüller, W. [1973],Personnelle und Statistische Wahrscheinlichkeit, Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Fraassen, B. [1978], Review of Stegmüller'sPersonelle und Statistische Wahrscheinlichkeit, Philosophy of Science 45 (1978), 158–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Mises, R. [1964],Mathematical Theory of Probability and Statistics, Edited by H. Geiringer, New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. New College of the University of South Florida, USA

    James H. Fetzer

Authors
  1. James H. Fetzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This article is a slightly altered version of Chapter 5 of Fetzer [1980] and represents the integration and refinement of views I have previously proposed; in particular, it should be regarded as succeeding the position advanced in Fetzer [1974a]. I am grateful to the National Science Foundation for its financial support during the period of time it was composed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fetzer, J.H. Probability and explanation. Synthese 48, 371–408 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063986

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063986

Search

Navigation