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Vaihinger’s Fictionalism Meets Binmore’s Knowledge-as-Commitment

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  • John A. Weymark

    (Vanderbilt University)

Abstract

This article considers how Ken Binmore’s use of as-if reasoning is related to Hans Vaihinger’s fictionalism. Fictionalism is concerned with the role of idealizations that individuals use to guide their actions and to make sense of the world. Fictionalism employs idealizations that are adopted in spite of being known not to be true. Binmore distinguishes between knowledge-as-commitment and knowledge-as-certainty. With the former, one behaves as if what one knows cannot be wrong, whereas with the latter, behavior is predicated on justified-true-belief. It is argued that by treating knowledge as knowledge-as-commitment, Binmore is employing fictions in Vaihinger’s sense. This argument is developed by considering how knowledge-as-commitment is used in Binmore’s model of Bayesian decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • John A. Weymark, 2022. "Vaihinger’s Fictionalism Meets Binmore’s Knowledge-as-Commitment," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 199-217, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:39:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s41412-021-00116-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s41412-021-00116-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adler, Matthew D., 2014. "Extended Preferences And Interpersonal Comparisons: A New Account," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(2), pages 123-162, July.
    2. Ken Binmore, 2007. "Rational Decisions in Large Worlds," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 86, pages 25-41.
    3. Mongin, Philippe, 2001. "The impartial observer theorem of social ethics," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(2), pages 147-179, October.
    4. Ken Binmore, 1994. "Game Theory and the Social Contract, Volume 1: Playing Fair," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262023636, December.
    5. Ken Binmore, 2017. "On the Foundations of Decision Theory," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 259-273, December.
    6. repec:adr:anecst:y:2007:i:86:p:04 is not listed on IDEAS
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ken Binmore; Hans Vaihinger; Fictionalism; Idealizations; As-if reasoning; Bayesian decision theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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