{"product_id":"the-philosophical-foundations-of-bayesianism-kenny-easwaran-9781138647718","title":"The Philosophical Foundations of Bayesianism: An Opinionated Introduction","description":"\u003cp\u003eBayesianism is the view that rational degrees of belief should follow probability theory. In this book, philosopher Kenny Easwaran defends Bayesianism as an effective normative framework when applied to all \"doxastic subjects\" humans, animals, artificial intelligences, groups, and even hypothetical aliens or angels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book addresses major challenges: concerns about numerical precision and computational tractability, problems with infinitesimals and regularity, difficulties with act-state dependence, and debates over evidence. Easwaran employs measurement theory to show probabilistic representation is analogous to representing temperature - different scales (Fahrenheit\/Celsius, probability\/odds) can represent the same underlying non-numerical reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLater chapters examine how beliefs should update through conditionalization, while distinguishing different sources of rational norms. Easwaran defends a notably permissive view: any probability function is internally rational, as reason alone cannot dictate privileged priors. However, \"ecological rationality\" explains why certain belief systems perform better in specific environments, acknowledging both Bayesianism's abstract permissiveness and practical constraints making certain credal states more successful.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Kenny Easwaran\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1138647713\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781138647718\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Routledge\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/17\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 292\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.64d","brand":"Kenny Easwaran","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48457836527871,"sku":"9781138647718","price":57.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_9d8479c6-add0-4aa0-8c7f-a189343b9141.jpg?v=1777401220","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-philosophical-foundations-of-bayesianism-kenny-easwaran-9781138647718","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}