Logic List Mailing Archive

Johannes von Kries' Conception of Probability

13-14 Sep 2012
Bonn, Germany

"Johannes von Kries' Conception of Probability, its Roots and Impact"
September 13-14, 2012
University Club Bonn
Scientific Organization: PD Dr. Jacob Rosenthal, Dr. Carsten Seck

Johannes von Kries (1853-1928), philosopher, psychologist and physiologist, was 
the first to propose (in his "Die Principien der Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung" 
as well as in his "Logik") a conception of probability that became later known, 
mostly through the works of Poincaré and Hopf, as the "method of arbitrary 
functions". Since then, this approach to probabilities has played a certain 
role in scientific contexts and philosophical discussions and is nowadays 
present in different varieties. The aim of the conference is, first, to review 
von Kries's original "Spielraumtheorie" in its historical context, second, to 
discuss related modern developments and their connection to mainstream accounts 
of probability, and third, to give some applications of those von Kriesian 
approaches.

Confirmed speakers:
- Marshall Abrams (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Claus Beisbart (University of Bern)
- Bernd Buldt (Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne)
- Guido Fioretti (University of Bologna)
- Helmut Pulte (University of Bochum)
- John Roberts (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
- Jacob Rosenthal (University of Bonn)
- Carsten Seck (University of Bonn)
- Sandy Zabell (Northwestern University, Chicago)
- Temilo van Zantwijk (University of Jena)

Registration is kindly requested. Please also indicate whether you would like 
to participate in the dinners on Thursday and/or Friday. For registration or 
further information please write to: jacob.rosenthal@uni-bonn.de, or to: 
carsten.seck@uni-bonn.de