Citation

Bunge M. Int. Rev. Victimology 2008; 15(2): 165-178.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, World Society of Victimology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/026975800801500206

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This is a criticism of Bayesianism, the opinion that all probabilities are a matter of opinion, hence beyond objective tests. It is shown that the mathematical concept of a probability function makes no room for a person, and that in physics, chemistry and biology probabilities are objective quantities subject to calculation and measurement. It is also shown that the use of subjective probabilities in medicine and criminology is bound to lead to either nonsense or injustice. The upshot is that only the realistic interpretation of probability, as the quantitation of objective possibility, is legitimate.

Language: en