Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Williamson (2007) has given a celebrated isomorphism or translation-invariance argument that an infinite sequence of heads should have zero probability. However, infinitesimalists who hold that such a sequence has non-zero infinitesimal probability are very likely to deny the translation-invariance (e.g., Weintraub, 2008). Thus, we give two new arguments that an infinite sequence of heads has zero probability, without relying on the full translation-invariance thesis. We also show that two of our arguments extend to the setting of primitive conditional probabilities such as Popper functions and to total comparative probabilities.
Source: Philosophical Studies
Author: Alexander R. Pruss
Institution: Baylor University
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7225414714