A Mathematical Theory of Evidence
eBook - PDF

A Mathematical Theory of Evidence

  1. English
  2. PDF
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

A Mathematical Theory of Evidence

About this book

Both in science and in practical affairs we reason by combining facts only inconclusively supported by evidence. Building on an abstract understanding of this process of combination, this book constructs a new theory of epistemic probability. The theory draws on the work of A. P. Dempster but diverges from Depster's viewpoint by identifying his "lower probabilities" as epistemic probabilities and taking his rule for combining "upper and lower probabilities" as fundamental.


The book opens with a critique of the well-known Bayesian theory of epistemic probability. It then proceeds to develop an alternative to the additive set functions and the rule of conditioning of the Bayesian theory: set functions that need only be what Choquet called "monotone of order of infinity." and Dempster's rule for combining such set functions. This rule, together with the idea of "weights of evidence," leads to both an extensive new theory and a better understanding of the Bayesian theory. The book concludes with a brief treatment of statistical inference and a discussion of the limitations of epistemic probability. Appendices contain mathematical proofs, which are relatively elementary and seldom depend on mathematics more advanced that the binomial theorem.

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Yes, you can access A Mathematical Theory of Evidence by Glenn Shafer in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Mathematics & History & Philosophy of Mathematics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Half-title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication Page
  6. Contents
  7. Foreword
  8. Preface
  9. Chapter 1. Introduction
  10. Chapter 2. Degrees Of Belief
  11. Chapter 3. Dempster's Rule Of Combination
  12. Chapter 4. Simple And Separable Support Functions
  13. Chapter 5. The Weights Of Evidence
  14. Chapter 6. Compatible Frames Of Discernment
  15. Chapter 7. Support Functions
  16. Chapter 8. The Discernment Of Evidence
  17. Chapter 9. Quasi Support Functions
  18. Chapter 10. Consonance
  19. Chapter 11. Statistical Evidence
  20. Chapter 12. The Dual Nature Of Probable Reasoning
  21. Bibliography
  22. Index