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Reasons for (prior) belief in Bayesian epistemology

Author

Listed:
  • Franz Dietrich

    (CERSES - UMR 8137 - Centre de recherche sens, ethique, société - UPD5 - Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Christian List

    (LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science)

Abstract

Bayesian epistemology tells us with great precision how we should move from prior to posterior beliefs in light of new evidence or information, but says little about where our prior beliefs come from. It o§ers few resources to describe some prior beliefs as rational or well-justiÖed, and others as irrational or unreasonable. A di§erent strand of epistemology takes the central epistemological question to be not how to change oneís beliefs in light of new evidence, but what reasons justify a given set of beliefs in the Örst place. We o§er an account of rational belief formation that closes some of the gap between Bayesianism and its reason-based alternative, formalizing the idea that an agent can have reasons for his or her (prior) beliefs, in addition to evidence or information in the ordinary Bayesian sense. Our analysis of reasons for belief is part of a larger programme of research on the role of reasons in rational agency (Dietrich and List 2012a,b).

Suggested Citation

  • Franz Dietrich & Christian List, 2013. "Reasons for (prior) belief in Bayesian epistemology," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00978005, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-00978005
    DOI: 10.1007/s11229-012-0224-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Barokas, Guy, 2024. "Positively correlated choice," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 62-71.
    2. Jennifer A. Loughmiller-Cardinal & James Scott Cardinal, 2023. "The Behavior of Information: A Reconsideration of Social Norms," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-27, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bayesian epistemology; doxastic reasons; prior and posterior beliefs; principle of insu¢ cient reason; belief formation; belief change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D0 - Microeconomics - - General
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • C0 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles

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