Probabilistic Logics and Probabilistic Networks: (350 Synthese Library)

While probabilistic logics in principle might be applied to solve a range of problems, in practice they are rarely applied - perhaps because they seem disparate, complicated, and computationally intractable. This programmatic book argues that several approaches to probabilistic logic fit into a simple unifying framework in which logically complex evidence is used to associate probability intervals or probabilities with sentences. Specifically, Part I shows that there is a natural way to present a question posed in probabilistic logic, and that various inferential procedures provide semantics for that question, while Part II shows that there is the potential to develop computationally feasible methods to mesh with this framework. The book is intended for researchers in philosophy, logic, computer science and statistics. A familiarity with mathematical concepts and notation is presumed, but no advanced knowledge of logic or probability theory is required.

Table of Contents:
Preface.- Part I: Probabilistic Logics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Standard Probabilistic Semantics.- 3. Probabilistic Argumentation.- 4. Evidential Probability.- 5. Statistical Inference.- 6. Bayesian Statistical Inference.- 7. Objective Bayesian Epistemology.- Part II: Probabilistic Networks.- 8. Credal and Bayesian Networks.- 9. Networks for the Standard Semantics.- 10. Networks for Probabilistic Argumentation.- 11. Networks for Evidential Probability.- 12. Networks for Statistical Inference.- 13. Networks for Bayesian Statistical Inference.- 14. Networks for Objective Bayesianism.- 15. Conclusion.- References.- Index.

About the Author :
Rolf Haenni is professor at the Department of Engineering and Information Technology of the University of Applied Sciences of Berne (BFH-TI) in Biel, Switzerland. He holds a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Fribourg, for which he received the prize for the best thesis in 1996. Jan-Willem Romeijn is an assistant professor at the Philosophy Faculty of the University of Groningen. He obtained degrees cum laude in both physics and philosophy, worked as a financial mathematician and received his doctorate cum laude from the University of Groningen in 2005. Gregory Wheeler is Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the New University of Lisbon. He received a joint PhD in Philosophy and Computer Science from the University of Rochester in 2002. Jon Williamson is Professor of Reasoning, Inference and Scientific Method at the University of Kent. He completed his PhD in Philosophy in 1998 and in 2007 was Times Higher Education UK Young Researcher of the Year.

Review :
“The authors have a wide range of experience in this field and, with this book, they aim at the ambitious and meaningful goal of showing how several distinct approaches to probabilistic logic can be incorporated into a general framework. … It will be particularly appreciated by researchers who would like a unifying view of the several approaches to probabilistic logic.” (Renato Pelessoni, Mathematical Reviews, June, 2015) "The authors of this book come from different academic backgrounds and disciplines (evidential probability [Wheeler, computer science]; probabilistic argumentation [Haenni, computer science]; objective Bayesianism [Williamson, philosophy]; and statistical inference [Romeijn, philosophy and psychology]). Their common interest is to investigate different logical and probabilistic inferential systems and to produce an unified view of inference in probabilistic logic. The group also has an eye toward computational feasibility, leading them to investigate applications of probabilistic networks to the inferential systems they try to unify. This book is the result of research began in 2005 as part of a program called Progic funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The project sponsored a series of excellent conferences centering on the problem of integrating logic and probability. While the focus of the book is probabilistic and statistical inference, it could perfectly well serve as an introduction to the different inferential systems the authors consider. The book represents a valuable step towards a solution of the difficult and interesting problems which arise when trying to combine probability and logic." Horacio Arlo-Costa, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, U.S.A. ‘Rolf Haenni, Jan-Willem Romeijn, Gregory Wheeler and Jon Williamson make a heroic tour de force through these theories of probabilistic reasoning, with the aim of identifying a unifying overarching framework.’ Jan Sprenger, Tilburg Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science in Metascience, The Netherlands Read the complete review: http://www.springerlink.com/content/pr7j017516052304/