Typicality-based chance

Abstract I use typicality to formulate and defend a functional characterization of chance. According to the characterization, called ‘Typicality-Based Chance’, to be a chance is to be typically approximated by possible frequencies, where the details of the approximation are expressed by the law of large numbers. Among its other virtues, Typicality-Based Chance supports an attractively empiricist answer to a persistent question in the literature—often raised by those who view typicality with suspicion—concerning what justifies the mathematical measures used to express facts about typicality.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Philosophical Quarterly
Published
2025-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqaf091
Primary Topic
Probability and Statistical Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Typicality-based chance

Isaac Wilhelm
The Philosophical Quarterly
Probability and Statistical Research
article

Typicality-based chance

Isaac Wilhelm
article en

Abstract

Abstract I use typicality to formulate and defend a functional characterization of chance. According to the characterization, called ‘Typicality-Based Chance’, to be a chance is to be typically approximated by possible frequencies, where the details of the approximation are expressed by the law of large numbers. Among its other virtues, Typicality-Based Chance supports an attractively empiricist answer to a persistent question in the literature—often raised by those who view typicality with suspicion—concerning what justifies the mathematical measures used to express facts about typicality.

The Philosophical Quarterly
National University of Singapore (SG)
Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Probability and Statistical Research
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