J M Keynes's foundation for his Principle of Indifference was a first order, predicate logic built on a propositional logic

In Chapter IV of A Treatise on Probability, John Maynard Keynes introduced the foundational elements of a first-order predicate logic that were needed to formalize and critically evaluate the Principle of Indifference (the rule assigning equal probabilities to alternatives when there is a symmetry of positive evidence or no reason to favor one alternative over another alternative).Instead of relying purely on a propositional framework, Keynes applied predicate-level distinctions to analyze the subjects, properties, and alternatives within an argument form. This allowed him to provide a set of restrictions and constraints on the application of the Principle of Indifference that would eliminate most of the contradictions, paradoxes and inconsistences that had plagued the Bernoulli-Laplace version of the rule that was originally called the Principle of Non-Sufficient Reason.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22743209
Primary Topic
Economic Theory and Institutions
Type
article
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J M Keynes's foundation for his Principle of Indifference was a first order, predicate logic built on a propositional logic

Michael Emmett Brady
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Economic Theory and Institutions
article

J M Keynes's foundation for his Principle of Indifference was a first order, predicate logic built on a propositional logic

Michael Emmett Brady
article en

Abstract

In Chapter IV of A Treatise on Probability, John Maynard Keynes introduced the foundational elements of a first-order predicate logic that were needed to formalize and critically evaluate the Principle of Indifference (the rule assigning equal probabilities to alternatives when there is a symmetry of positive evidence or no reason to favor one alternative over another alternative).Instead of relying purely on a propositional framework, Keynes applied predicate-level distinctions to analyze the subjects, properties, and alternatives within an argument form. This allowed him to provide a set of restrictions and constraints on the application of the Principle of Indifference that would eliminate most of the contradictions, paradoxes and inconsistences that had plagued the Bernoulli-Laplace version of the rule that was originally called the Principle of Non-Sufficient Reason.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
California State University, Dominguez Hills (US)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Economic Theory and Institutions
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J M Keynes's foundation for his Principle of Indifference was a first order, predicate logic built on a propositional logic — Michael Emmett Brady · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS