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Acting Upon Uncertain Beliefs
Miloud Belkoniene1, Patryk Dziurosz-Serafinowicz2
1London's Global University, London, UK.
Acta Analytica : Philosophy and Psychology
|July 21, 2020
Summary
Rational agents can sometimes set aside uncertain beliefs during decision-making. This research explores when it is permissible to ignore belief uncertainty in deliberations, impacting pragmatic encroachment on knowledge.
Area of Science:
- Decision Theory
- Epistemology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Belief is often characterized as a disposition to treat propositions as true in reasoning.
- Uncertainty about propositions can complicate rational deliberation.
- The concept of pragmatic encroachment suggests practical considerations can affect knowledge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify conditions permitting agents to exclude uncertain propositions from deliberation.
- To analyze when belief dispositions can be overridden in decision-making.
- To explore the relationship between deliberation, belief, and pragmatic encroachment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of rational permissibility in decision-making under uncertainty.
- Examination of defeasible dispositions in belief formation and reasoning.
- Application of expected utility theory to higher-order deliberations.
Main Results:
- Agents may rationally omit uncertain propositions from deliberation under specific conditions.
- The disposition to believe can be overridden, requiring consideration of uncertainty.
- Higher-order deliberations reveal choices about accepting or not accepting beliefs.
Conclusions:
- Provides a framework for understanding when to ignore uncertainty in rational decision-making.
- Offers insights into the conditions under which pragmatic encroachment on knowledge occurs.
- Contributes to the philosophical understanding of belief, deliberation, and rationality.
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