REASONING WITH UNCERTAINTY

PHI3RUN

Not currently offered

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

We cannot always be certain. So we must learn to reason with uncertainty. Whether in everyday life or university study, we often need to evaluate arguments that offer no absolute guarantee for their conclusions. What are the most rational decisions to take in such cases? What are the guiding principles we should follow? In this subject, we will learn a range of methods to rationally deal with uncertainties, such as probabilistic reasoning, game theory, decision theory, analogical reasoning, moral reasoning, and inference to the best explanation. We will also learn to apply these methods of reasoning to gaming, negotiation, public health policy, the problem of mitigating climate change, religious beliefs, and ethics. This subject will complement other formal philosophy subjects such as PHI1CRT (Critical Thinking) and PHI2/3LOG (Logic).

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Norva Lo

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: PHI2RUN

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsLectures on Inductive Logic,PrescribedEllis B and von Thun M 1992,LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
ReadingsA Concise Introduction to Logic,RecommendedHurley,P 2008,10TH EDN, THOMSON,
Subject not currently offered - Subject options not available.