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Inductive Logic With Causal Modalities: A Probabilistic Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Soshichi Uchii*
Affiliation:
Kyoto University

Abstract

This paper tries to extend Hintikka's inductive logic so that we can confirm a causally necessary statement. For this purpose, a joint system of inductive logic and logic of causal modalities is constructed. This system can offer a plausible explication of the distinction between nomic and accidental universality, as well as a good formulation of a causal law. And the transition from actuality to causal necessity is construed, in this system, as essentially probabilistic; i.e. no statements about actuality can entail a necessary statement, but certain statements about actuality can single out a most probable causal law.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1972 by The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

This paper is based on the second half of my Ph.D. dissertation [15] submitted to the University of Michigan; the essence of the first half will be published in another paper [16]. I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Professor Arthur Burks.

References

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