Beyond Uncertainty
Reasoning with Unknown Possibilities

Introduces the topic of limited and changing awareness to those interested in the philosophy of decision-making and uncertain reasoning.

Katie Steele (Author), H. Orri Stefánsson (Author)

9781108713511, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 September 2021

75 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 0.7 cm, 0.19 kg

The main aim of this Element is to introduce the topic of limited awareness, and changes in awareness, to those interested in the philosophy of decision-making and uncertain reasoning. While it has long been of interest to economists and computer scientists, this topic has only recently been subject to philosophical investigation. Indeed, at first sight limited awareness seems to evade any systematic treatment: it is beyond the uncertainty that can be managed. On the one hand, an agent has no control over what contingencies she is and is not aware of at a given time, and any awareness growth takes her by surprise. On the other hand, agents apparently learn to identify the situations in which they are more and less likely to experience limited awareness and subsequent awareness growth. How can these two sides be reconciled? That is the puzzle we confront in this Element.

1. Introduction
2. Sequential Decision Models and the Test of Time
3. Modelling (Un)Awareness
4. Responding to Awareness Growth
5. Awareness Rigidity
6. Anticipating Awareness Growth
7. Awareness Reflection
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Philosophy: logic [HPL], Philosophy [HP], Decision theory: general [GPQ]