Rank-based decision theory and conditional deontic logic

Wolfgang Spohn
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Symposium on Imprecise Probabilities: Theories and Applications, PMLR 290:263-272, 2025.

Abstract

Ranking theory is a well-established account of rational belief (= taking to be true) and its dynamics. Each formal representation of epistemic states should be extendable to a decision theory; ultimately, beliefs manifest themselves in rational action. However, the decision-theoretic extension of ranking theory is wanting. Giang and Shenoy’s “A Qualitative Linear Utility Theory for Spohn’s Theory of Epistemic Beliefs” (2000) is the only proposal so far. This paper will modify this proposal. The modification allows building a bridge to the field of (conditional) deontic logic, indeed advancing this field and thus instructing legal theory. This is to show that the modification is a fruitful one deserving further investigation and application.

Cite this Paper

BibTeX
@InProceedings{pmlr-v290-spohn25a, title = {Rank-based decision theory and conditional deontic logic}, author = {Spohn, Wolfgang}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Symposium on Imprecise Probabilities: Theories and Applications}, pages = {263--272}, year = {2025}, editor = {Destercke, Sébastien and Erreygers, Alexander and Nendel, Max and Riedel, Frank and Troffaes, Matthias C. M.}, volume = {290}, series = {Proceedings of Machine Learning Research}, month = {15--18 Jul}, publisher = {PMLR}, pdf = {https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mlresearch/v290/main/assets/spohn25a/spohn25a.pdf}, url = {https://proceedings.mlr.press/v290/spohn25a.html}, abstract = {Ranking theory is a well-established account of rational belief (= taking to be true) and its dynamics. Each formal representation of epistemic states should be extendable to a decision theory; ultimately, beliefs manifest themselves in rational action. However, the decision-theoretic extension of ranking theory is wanting. Giang and Shenoy’s “A Qualitative Linear Utility Theory for Spohn’s Theory of Epistemic Beliefs” (2000) is the only proposal so far. This paper will modify this proposal. The modification allows building a bridge to the field of (conditional) deontic logic, indeed advancing this field and thus instructing legal theory. This is to show that the modification is a fruitful one deserving further investigation and application.} }
Endnote
%0 Conference Paper %T Rank-based decision theory and conditional deontic logic %A Wolfgang Spohn %B Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Symposium on Imprecise Probabilities: Theories and Applications %C Proceedings of Machine Learning Research %D 2025 %E Sébastien Destercke %E Alexander Erreygers %E Max Nendel %E Frank Riedel %E Matthias C. M. Troffaes %F pmlr-v290-spohn25a %I PMLR %P 263--272 %U https://proceedings.mlr.press/v290/spohn25a.html %V 290 %X Ranking theory is a well-established account of rational belief (= taking to be true) and its dynamics. Each formal representation of epistemic states should be extendable to a decision theory; ultimately, beliefs manifest themselves in rational action. However, the decision-theoretic extension of ranking theory is wanting. Giang and Shenoy’s “A Qualitative Linear Utility Theory for Spohn’s Theory of Epistemic Beliefs” (2000) is the only proposal so far. This paper will modify this proposal. The modification allows building a bridge to the field of (conditional) deontic logic, indeed advancing this field and thus instructing legal theory. This is to show that the modification is a fruitful one deserving further investigation and application.
APA
Spohn, W.. (2025). Rank-based decision theory and conditional deontic logic. Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Symposium on Imprecise Probabilities: Theories and Applications, in Proceedings of Machine Learning Research 290:263-272 Available from https://proceedings.mlr.press/v290/spohn25a.html.

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