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Anthropic Bias: Observation Selection Effects in Science and Philosophy
By (author) Nick Bostrom
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normal price: R 2 357.95
Price: R 2 239.95
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| book description |
Anthropic Bias explores how to reason when you suspect that your evidence is biased by ""observation selection effects""--that is, evidence that has been filtered by the precondition that there be some suitably positioned observer to ""have"" the evidence. This conundrum--sometimes alluded to as ""the anthropic principle,"" ""self-locating belief,"" or ""indexical information""--turns out to be a surprisingly perplexing and intellectually stimulating challenge, one abounding with important implications for many areas in science and philosophy. There are the philosophical thought experiments and paradoxes: the Doomsday Argument; Sleeping Beauty; the Presumptuous Philosopher; Adam & Eve; the Absent-Minded Driver; the Shooting Room. And there are the applications in contemporary science: cosmology (""How many universes are there?"", ""Why does the universe appear fine-tuned for life?""); evolutionary theory (""How improbable was the evolution of intelligent life on our planet?""); the problem of time's arrow (""Can it be given a thermodynamic explanation?""); quantum physics (""How can the many-worlds theory be tested?""); game-theory problems with imperfect recall (""How to model them?""); even traffic analysis (""Why is the 'next lane' faster?""). Anthropic Bias argues that the same principles are at work across all these domains. And it offers a synthesis: a mathematically explicit theory of observation selection effects that attempts to meet scientific needs while steering clear of philosophical paradox.
| product details |
Normally shipped |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published date | 18 Jun 2010
Language |
Format | Paperback / softback
Pages | 230
Dimensions | 229 x 152 x 0mm (L x W x H)
Weight | 440g
ISBN | 978-0-4158-8394-8
Readership Age |
BISAC | philosophy / general
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Normally shipped |
Readership Age |
Normal Price | R 2 830.95
Price | R 2 689.95
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