On the Logic of Nonmonotonic Conditionals and Conditional Probabilities^1

Author: Hawthorne J.

Source: Journal of Philosophical Logic, Volume 25, Number 2, April 1996 , pp. 185-218(34)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

I will describe the logics of a range of conditionals that behave like conditional probabilities at various levels of probabilistic support. Families of these conditionals will be characterized in terms of the rules that their members obey. I will show that for each conditional, \to, in a given family, there is a probabilistic support level r and a conditional probability function P such that, for all sentences C and B, ‘C\to B’ holds just in case P[B\mid C]\geqslant r. Thus, each conditional in a given family behaves like conditional probability above some specific support level.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy, University of Oklahama, Norman OK 73019, U.S.A.

Publication date: 1996-04-01