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March 28, 2026Philosophy of Science0 citations

Have Bayesians Solved the Paradox of the Ravens?

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AKAmit Karmon

Key Points

  • This study investigates the standard Bayesian approach to the paradox of the ravens and its implications.
  • Analyzed Bayesian confirmation relative to black ravens and non-black non-ravens.
  • Assessed the impact of prior restrictions on confirmation outcomes.
  • Cumulative confirmation from non-black non-ravens is significant if no strict prior restrictions are applied.
  • The paradox of the ravens remains unresolved due to potential confirmation from non-black non-ravens.

Abstract

Abstract The standard Bayesian solution to the paradox of the ravens maintains that the degree of confirmation provided by seeing a non-black non-raven is positive but negligible compared to that provided by seeing a black raven. I show that, unless we impose severe and unmotivated restrictions on the subject’s priors, this has the consequence that the cumulative confirmation provided by all the non-black non-ravens the subject expects to see is non-negligible compared to the cumulative confirmation provided by all the black ravens the subject expects to see. If this is so, however, then the paradox retains its full force.

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Cite This Study

Amit Karmon (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c771988bbfbc51511e19f1https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2026.10207
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