On the regress problem of deciding how to decide
pp. 661-670
Résumé
Any decision is made in some way or another. Which way? (Have I worked out enough alternatives to choose from? Which decision rule to apply?) That is a higher-order decision problem, to be dealt with in some way or other. Which way? That is an even higher-order decision problem. There seems to be a regress of decision problems toward higher and higher orders. But in daily life we stop moving to higher-order decision problems—stop the regress—at some finite point. The regress problem of deciding how to decide is the problem of explaining what would make it rational to stop the regress. I will give a new solution in the present paper. The result suggests a new way of looking at standard Bayesian theory and the more recent theory of adaptive rationality.
Détails de la publication
Publié dans:
Peijnenburg Jeanne, Wenmackers Sylvia (2014) Infinite regress in decision theory, philosophy of science, and formal epistemology. Synthese 191 (4).
Pages: 661-670
DOI: 10.1007/s11229-014-0398-1
Citation complète:
Lin Hanti, 2014, On the regress problem of deciding how to decide. Synthese 191 (4), Infinite regress in decision theory, philosophy of science, and formal epistemology, 661-670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-014-0398-1.