SUO: Re: Logic & Programming Languages
John,
I realize that we are reasoning about probability, which is why I posed the
question. I can see how one can logically select an answer when one result is
more probable than another. I just have not yet seen any logical formula that
lets me choose between two equally probable results. (I just can't imagine Mr.
Spock saying, of course it was logical that Captain Kirk would pick heads.)
Most logical formula's will let give me an equally valid truth value for either
choice. The exception occurs when I encorporate some random choice generator
that will temporarily give one solution preference. That is, some little
function that will randomly select between heads and tails. Yet such a random
choice generator is not a logical construct, is it?
Bill
"John F. Sowa" wrote:
> Bill,
>
> As usual, CSP had an answer to that question:
>
> >Where does random chance fit into the whole scheme of things? I know that
> >flipping a coin has a 50-50 chance of landing heads, so how can I logically
>
> >choose heads or tails?
>
> He said that reasoning about probability is not a special
> kind of reasoning. It is just logical reasoning about a
> different subject matter -- namely, probability.
>
> So in this case, you are correctly reasoning that the
> probability is 50%. Therefore, you can logically expect
> to get heads 50% of the time or tails 50% of the time.
>
> John Sowa