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18Meta-Inductive Probability AggregationTheory and Decision 95 (4): 663-689. 2023.There is a plurality of formal constraints for aggregating probabilities of a group of individuals. Different constraints characterise different families of aggregation rules. In this paper, we focus on the families of linear and geometric opinion pooling rules which consist in linear, respectively, geometric weighted averaging of the individuals’ probabilities. For these families, it is debated which weights exactly are to be chosen. By applying the results of the theory of meta-induction, we w…Read more
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73Unification and explanation from a causal perspectiveStudies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 99 (C): 28-36. 2023.We discuss two influential views of unification: mutual information unification (MIU) and common origin unification (COU). We propose a simple probabilistic measure for COU and compare it with Myrvold’s (2003, 2017) probabilistic measure for MIU. We then explore how well these two measures perform in simple causal settings. After highlighting several deficiencies, we propose causal constraints for both measures. A comparison with explanatory power shows that the causal version of COU is one step…Read more
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20The Many Faces of Generalizing the Theory of EvolutionAmerican Philosophical Quarterly 58 (1): 35-50. 2021.Ever since proposals for generalizing the theory of natural evolution have been put forward, the aims and ambitions of both proponents and critics have differed widely. Some consider such proposals as merely metaphors, some as analogies, some aim at a real generalization and unification, and some have even proposed to work out full reductions. In this paper it is argued that these different forms of generalizing the theory of evolution can be systematically re-framed as different approaches for …Read more
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3Rezension: Eleonore Stump, Wandering in Darkness. Narrative and the Problem of SufferingKriterion - Journal of Philosophy 1 (26): 97-103. 2012.
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7Rezension: Gerechte Verteilung medizinischer RessourcenKriterion - Journal of Philosophy 1 (23): 100-105. 2010.
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4Rezension: Funktion, Begriff, Bedeutung. Fünf logische StudienKriterion - Journal of Philosophy 1 (22): 62-64. 2009.
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5Conference Report: Salzburg Conference for Young Analytic Philosophy 2011Kriterion - Journal of Philosophy 1 (26): 104-109. 2012.
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101Inductive metaphysics: Editors' introductionGrazer Philosophische Studien 98 (1): 1-26. 2021.This introduction consists of two parts. In the first part, the special issue editors introduce inductive metaphysics from a historical as well as from a systematic point of view and discuss what distinguishes it from other modern approaches to metaphysics. In the second part, they give a brief summary of the individual articles in this special issue.
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113A Complementary Approach to Aristotle’s Account of Definition and Carnap’s Account of ExplicationHistory of Philosophy & Logical Analysis 22 (1): 19-40. 2019.In this paper it is argued that there are relevant similarities of Aristotle's account of definition and Carnap's account of explication. To show this, first, Aristotle's conditions of adequacy for definitions are provided and an outline of the main critique put forward against Aristotle's account of definition is given. Subsequently, Carnap's conditions of adequacy for explications are presented and discussed. It is shown that Aristotle's conditions of extensional correctness can be interpreted…Read more
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542Cultural Inheritance in Generalized DarwinismPhilosophy of Science 87 (2): 237-261. 2020.Generalized Darwinism models cultural development as an evolutionary process, where traits evolve through variation, selection, and inheritance. Inheritance describes either a discrete unit’s transmission or a mixing of traits. In this article, we compare classical models of cultural evolution and generalized population dynamics with respect to blending inheritance. We identify problems of these models and introduce our model, which combines relevant features of both. Blending is implemented as …Read more
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19An optimality-argument for equal weightingSynthese 197 (4): 1543-1563. 2020.There are several proposals to resolve the problem of epistemic peer disagreement which concentrate on the question of how to incorporate evidence of such a disagreement. The main positions in this field are the equal weight view, the steadfast view, and the total evidence view. In this paper we present a new argument in favour of the equal weight view. As we will show, this view results from a general approach of forming epistemic attitudes in an optimal way. By this, the argument for equal wei…Read more
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22Introduction to the special issue “Logical perspectives on science and cognition”Synthese 197 (4): 1381-1390. 2020.
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39Modeling creative abduction Bayesian styleEuropean Journal for Philosophy of Science 9 (1): 1-15. 2019.Schurz (Synthese 164:201–234, 2008) proposed a justification of creative abduction on the basis of the Reichenbachian principle of the common cause. In this paper we take up the idea of combining creative abduction with causal principles and model instances of successful creative abduction within a Bayes net framework. We identify necessary conditions for such inferences and investigate their unificatory power. We also sketch several interesting applications of modeling creative abduction Bayesi…Read more
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21Newtons Methodologie: Eine Kritik an Duhem, Feyerabend und LakatosArchiv für Geschichte der Philosophie 101 (4): 584-615. 2019.The Newtonian research program consists of the core axioms of the Principia Mathematica, a sequence of force laws and auxiliary hypotheses, and a set of methodological rules. The latter underwent several changes and so it is sometimes claimed that, historically seen, Newton and the Newtonians added methodological rules post constructione in order to further support their research agenda. An argument of Duhem, Feyerabend, and Lakatos aims to provide a theoretical reason why Newton could not have …Read more
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21A Rational Reconstruction of the L’Aquila Case: How Non-Denial Turns into AcceptanceSocial Epistemology 33 (6): 503-513. 2019.ABSTRACTIn 2009, an earthquake struck the city L’Aquila, causing more than 300 deaths and leading to a trial which lasted almost four years and – though cleared in the appeal – in which scientists...
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29C. Ulises Moulines: Die Entwicklung der modernen Wissenschaftstheorie . Eine historische Einführung: Hamburg: LIT Verlag 2008, 210 pp, 17.90 €, ISBN-978-3-8258-8965-4Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 41 (2): 405-409. 2010.
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94Confirmation based on analogical inference: Bayes meets JeffreyCanadian Journal of Philosophy 50 (2): 174-194. 2020.Certain hypotheses cannot be directly confirmed for theoretical, practical, or moral reasons. For some of these hypotheses, however, there might be a workaround: confirmation based on analogical reasoning. In this paper we take up Dardashti, Hartmann, Thébault, and Winsberg’s (in press) idea of analyzing confirmation based on analogical inference Baysian style. We identify three types of confirmation by analogy and show that Dardashti et al.’s approach can cover two of them. We then highlight po…Read more
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16The Second International Conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science , 8–11 March 2016Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 48 (2): 289-291. 2017.
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48Is Mereology Ontologically Innocent? Well, it Depends…Philosophia 47 (2): 395-424. 2019.Mereology, the theory of parts and wholes, is sometimes used as a framework for categorisation because it is regarded as ontologically innocent in the sense that the mereological fusion of some entities is nothing over and above the entities. In this paper it is argued that an adequate answer to the question of whether the thesis of the ontological innocence of mereology holds relies crucially on the underlying theory of reference. It is then shown that upholding the thesis comes at high costs, …Read more
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44Philosophy of Science Between the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and the Humanities: IntroductionJournal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 48 (3): 317-326. 2017.This introduction provides a detailed summary of all papers of the special issue on the second conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science: GWP.2016.
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27Is the Equal-Weight View Really Supported by Positive Crowd Effects?In Uskali Mäki, Stéphanie Ruphy, Gerhard Schurz & Ioannis Votsis (eds.), Recent Developments in the Philosophy of Science, Springer. pp. 87-98. 2015.In the debate of epistemic peer disagreement the equal-weight view suggests to split the difference between one's own and one's peer's opinions. An argument in favour of this view---which is prominently held by Adam Elga---is that by such a difference-splitting one may make some use of a so-called wise-crowd effect. In this paper it is argued that such a view faces two main problems: First, the problem that the standards for making use of a wise-crowd effect are quite low. And second, the proble…Read more
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16Optimisation in a Synchronised Prediction SettingJournal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 48 (3): 419-437. 2017.The standard approach to solve prediction tasks is to apply inductive methods such as, e.g., the straight rule. Such methods are proven to be access-optimal in specific prediction settings, but not in all. Within the optimality-approach of meta-induction, success-based weighted prediction methods are proven to be access-optimal in all possible continuous prediction settings. However, meta-induction fails to be access-optimal in so-called demonic discrete prediction environments where the predict…Read more
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52One Dogma of AnalyticismLogique Et Analyse 240 429-444. 2017.According to one view on analyticity in formal languages, a definition of 'analytic' can be given by semantic notions alone. In this contribution we are going to show that a purely semantic conception of analyticity is inadequate. To do so, we provide a method for transforming theories with a synthetic empirical basis into logical equivalent theories with an analytic ``empirical'' basis. We draw the conclusion that a definition of analyticity is adequate only if it is a pragmatic one.
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28Can Religious and Secular Belief be Rationally Combined?International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 82 (3): 299-319. 2017.Sometimes the cognitive part of the human mind is modelled in a simplified way by degrees of belief. E.g., in philosophy of science and in formal epistemology agents are often identified by their credences in a set of claims. This line of dealing with the individual mind is currently expanded to groups by attempts of finding adequate ways of pooling individual degrees of belief into an overall group credence or, more abstractly speaking, into a collective mind. In this paper, we model religious …Read more
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34The Second International Conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science (GWP.2016), 8–11 March 2016In Alexander Christian, Christian J. Feldbacher-Escamilla & Alexander Gebharter (eds.), Selected Papers of the Triennial Conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science GWP.2016, Düsseldorf, March 8–11, 2016, . pp. 289-291. 2017.
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266Rezension: Eleonore Stump, Wandering in Darkness. Narrative and the Problem of Suffering (review)Kriterion - Journal of Philosophy 26 (1): 97-103. 2012.Eleonore Stump claims in her book 'Wandering in Darkness' that the problem of evil can be solved best by the help of narratives. In this review her argumentation for this claim is explicated.
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29Analogies in Scientific Explanations: Concept Formation by Analogies in Cultural Evolutionary TheoryIn Henrique Jales Ribeiro (ed.), Systematic Approaches to Argument by Analogy, Springer. pp. 209--226. 2014.In philosophy of science concept formation and reduction is usually discussed with respect to definability. In the paper at hand this discussion is slightly expanded to an investigation of concept formation and reduction by analogies. It is argued that many kinds of such analogies bear some important features of partial contextual definitions. With the help of a detailed investigation of the so-called gene-meme-analogy it is then demonstrated how the meme-concept is introduced via analogies into…Read more
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Areas of Specialization
Epistemology |
General Philosophy of Science |
Areas of Interest
Meta-Ethics |
Logic and Philosophy of Logic |
Metaphilosophy |