
doi: 10.1007/bf00248572
Let 'H(A,B)' symbolize the value proposition that P(A,B) is high, where A and B are elements of a boolean algebra and P(A,B) is the conditional probability of A given B, P being a probability function for the algebra. Letting I(A,B) be the improbability function 1-P(A,B), it is proved that a necessary and sufficient condition for the inequality \[ I(A_ 1,B_ 1)+...+I(A_ n,B_ n)\leq I(C_ 1,D_ 1)\times...\times I(C_ m,D_ m) \] to hold for all improbability functions is that \(H(C_ 1,D_ 1)\vee...\vee H(C_ m,D_ m)\) should be derivable from \(H(A_ 1,B_ 1)\&...\&H(A_ n,B_ n)\) according to simple rules of inference, and it is also shown that if it is not derivable by these rules then for all positive \(\epsilon\) there exists an improbability function I such that \(I(A_ i,B_ i)\leq \epsilon\) for \(i=1,...,n\), while \(I(C_ j,D_ j)\geq 1/m\), for \(j=1,...,m\). A simple decision procedure is described for determining derivability according to the rules, and a number of metatheoretic consequences are derived from its properties. Connections with one of D. Lewis's systems of counterfactual logic are noted.
conditionals, derivability, value proposition, probability function, improbability function, conditional probability, decision procedure, Probability and inductive logic, counterfactual logic
conditionals, derivability, value proposition, probability function, improbability function, conditional probability, decision procedure, Probability and inductive logic, counterfactual logic
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