Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Popper and the Propensity Interpretation of Probability

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I've often used three interpretations of probability - frequency, logical, and subjective - to illustrate the idea that the same logical or mathematical foundation can be applied to the world in different ways. To this I can now add Popper's 'propensity interpretation'. "On this view, objects in the world have dispositions or tendencies to bring about or realize certain kinds of future possible outcomes." It's not merely based on observation, as is the frequency interpretation, and not based on ontology, as in the logical interpretation. It has been around for decades, of course, but it was new to me. Image: Kidney International.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 23, 2024 05:55 a.m.

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