Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T09:16:25.795Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Fallacy of Intrinsic Distributions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Amos Nathan*
Affiliation:
Jerusalem

Abstract

Jaynes contends that in many statistical problems a seemingly indeterminate probability distribution is made unique by the transformation group of necessarily implied invariance properties, thereby justifying the principle of indifference. To illustrate and substantiate his claims he considers Bertrand's Paradox. These assertions are here refuted and the traditional attitude is vindicated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bertrand, J. (1889), Calcul des probabilités. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, pp. 45.Google Scholar
Borei, E. (1909), Eléments de la théorie des probabilités. Paris: Herman et Fils, pp. 110–13.Google Scholar
Friedman, K. S. (1975), “A Problem Posed”, Foundations of Physics 5: 8991.10.1007/BF01100318CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaynes, E. T. (1973), “The Well-Posed Problem”, Foundations of Physics 3: 477–92.10.1007/BF00709116CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Mises, R. (1964), in H. Geiringer (ed.), Mathematical Theory of Probability and Statistics. New York: Academic Press, pp. 160–66.Google Scholar