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Knightian Uncertainty Meets Ranking Theory

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  • Wolfgang Spohn

    (Universität Konstanz)

Abstract

Knightian uncertainty is not a special kind of uncertainty; it’s just uncertainty. And it raises the issue how we may model uncertainty. The paper gives a brief overview over non-probabilistic measures of uncertainty, starting with Shackle’s functions of potential surprise and mentioning non-additive probabilities, Dempster–Shafer belief functions, etc. It arrives at an explanation of ranking theory as a further uncertainty model and emphasizes its additional epistemological virtues, which consist in a representation of belief, i.e., of taking something to be true (which is the basic notion of traditional epistemology and admits of degrees as well) and a full dynamic account of those degrees. The final section addresses the issue how these uncertainty measures and in particular ranking theory may be used within a decision theoretic context.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Spohn, 2017. "Knightian Uncertainty Meets Ranking Theory," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 293-311, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:34:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s41412-017-0060-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s41412-017-0060-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gilboa, Itzhak, 1987. "Expected utility with purely subjective non-additive probabilities," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 65-88, February.
    2. Schmeidler, David, 1989. "Subjective Probability and Expected Utility without Additivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 57(3), pages 571-587, May.
    3. Dubois, Didier & Prade, Henri & Sabbadin, Regis, 2001. "Decision-theoretic foundations of qualitative possibility theory," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(3), pages 459-478, February.
    4. Daniel Ellsberg, 1961. "Risk, Ambiguity, and the Savage Axioms," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 75(4), pages 643-669.
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    Cited by:

    1. Max Albert, 2017. "How Bayesian Rationality Fails and Critical Rationality Works," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 313-341, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Knightian uncertainty; Functions of potential surprise; Baconian probability; Non-additive probability; Ranking theory; Belief; Decision theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B21 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Microeconomics
    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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