Editing Probabilism

{{Short description|Ancient Greek doctrine of academic skepticism}}
{{for|probabilists practicing mathematical probability theory|List of mathematical probabilists}}

In [[theology]] and [[philosophy]], '''probabilism''' (from [[Latin]] ''probare'', to test, approve) is an ancient Greek doctrine of [[academic skepticism]].<ref name="runes2006">{{cite book |last=Runes |first=Dagobert D. |authorlink=Dagobert D. Runes |year=2006 |title=The Dictionary of Philosophy |series=Kessinger Publishing's rare reprints |isbn=978-1-4286-1310-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5g0FOsGwUwC&pg=PA251 |page=251}}</ref> It holds that in the absence of certainty, plausibility or truth-likeness is the best criterion. The term can also refer to a 17th-century religious thesis about ethics, or a modern physical–philosophical thesis.

==Philosophy==
=== Ancient ===
{{see also|Academic skepticism|Carneades}}
In [[ancient Greek philosophy]], probabilism referred to the doctrine which gives assistance in ordinary matters to one who is skeptical in respect of the possibility of real knowledge: it supposes that though [[acatalepsy|knowledge is impossible]], a man may rely on strong beliefs in practical affairs. This view was held by the [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptics]] of the [[New Academy]]. Academic skeptics accept probabilism, while [[Pyrrhonism|Pyrrhonian skeptics]] do not.<ref>[[Sextus Empiricus]], ''Outlines of Pyrrhonism'' Book I, Chapter 33, Section 231 "...we differ from the New Academy; for whereas the men who profess to conform to its doctrine use probability as the guide of life, we live in an undogmatic way...."</ref>

=== Modern ===
In modern usage, a probabilist is someone who believes that central epistemological issues are best approached using probabilities.{{Clarify|date=May 2011}}  This thesis is neutral with respect to whether knowledge entails certainty or whether skepticism about knowledge is true.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Probabilist doctrines continue to be debated in the context of [[artificial general intelligence]], as a counterpoint to the use of [[non-monotonic logic]], as the proper form for [[knowledge representation]] remains unclear.

==Theology==
{{main|Catholic probabilism}}

In [[Christian ethics|moral theology]], especially [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], it refers especially to the view in [[casuistry]] that in difficult matters of [[conscience]] one may safely follow a doctrine that is [[probability (moral theology)|probable]], for example is approved by a recognized [[Doctor of the Church]], even if the opposite opinion is more probable.

This view was advanced by the Spanish theologian [[Bartolomé de Medina (theologian)|Bartolomé de Medina]] (1527–1581)<ref name="CE">{{cite Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Probabilism}}</ref> and defended by many [[Jesuits]]. It was heavily criticised by [[Blaise Pascal]] in his [[Lettres provinciales|''Provincial Letters'']]<ref name="CE"/> and by [[Alphonsus Liguori|St. Alphonsus Ligourí]] in his ''Theologia Moralis'',<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ligourí|first1=Alphonsus, St.|title=Theologia Moralis|date=1852|location=Paris|pages=No. 12, 69}}</ref> as leading to moral laxity. Opposed to probabilism is [[probabiliorism]] (Latin ''probabilior'', "more likely"), which holds that when there is a preponderance of evidence on one side of a controversy one is obliged to follow that side, and [[tutiorism]] (Latin ''tutior'', "safer"), which holds that in case of doubt one must take the morally safer side. A more radical view, "minus probabilissimus", holds that an action is permissible if a single opinion allowing that action is available, even if the overwhelming weight of opinion proscribes it.

The doctrine became particularly popular at the start of the 17th century, as it could be used to support almost any position.  By mid-century, such thinking, termed [[Laxism]], was recognized as scandalous.<ref>J. Franklin, ''The Science of Conjecture: Evidence and Probability Before Pascal'' (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), {{ISBN|0-8018-7109-3}}, "The Scandal of Laxism" p. 83.</ref>

==See also==
{{col div|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Compensationism]]
* [[Determinism]]
* [[Equiprobabilism]]
* [[Indeterminism]]
* [[Ontology]]
* [[Probability]]
{{colend}}

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* {{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Probabilism}}
* {{1911|wstitle=Probabilism|volume=22|page=376}}
* J. Franklin, ''The Science of Conjecture: Evidence and Probability Before Pascal'' (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), ch. 4

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060613195347/http://www.philosophyprofessor.com/philosophies/probabilism.php PhilosophyProfessor.com: Probabilism]

[[Category:Religious ethics]]
[[Category:Catholic moral theology]]
[[Category:Epistemological theories]]
[[Category:Academic skepticism]]