The Role of Coherence of Evidence in the Non-Dynamic Model of Confirmation |
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Authors: | Tomoji Shogenji |
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Institution: | (1) Philosophy Department, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA |
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Abstract: | This paper examines the role of coherence of evidence in what I call the non-dynamic model of confirmation. It appears that
other things being equal, a higher degree of coherence among pieces of evidence raises to a higher degree the probability
of the proposition they support. I argue against this view on the basis of three related observations. First, we should be
able to assess the impact of coherence on any hypothesis of interest the evidence supports. Second, the impact of coherence
among the pieces of evidence can be different on different hypotheses of interest they support. Third, when we assess the
impact of coherence on a hypothesis of interest, other conditions that should be held equal for a fair assessment include
the degrees of individual support which the propositions directly supported by the respective pieces of evidence provide for
the hypothesis. Once we take these points into consideration, the impression that coherence of evidence plays a positive role
in confirmation dissipates. In some cases it can be shown that other things being equal, a higher degree of coherence among
the pieces of evidence reduces the degree of confirmation for the hypothesis they support. |
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Keywords: | |
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