Coexistence of Symmetry Properties for Bayesian Confirmation Measures

Abstract

Many Bayesian Confirmation Measures have been proposed so far. They are used to assess the degree to which an evidence (or premise) E supports or contradicts an hypothesis (or conclusion) H, making use of prior probability P(H), posterior probability P(H|E) and of probability of evidence P(E). Many kinds of comparisons of those measures have already been made. Here we focus on symmetry properties of confirmation measures, which are partly inspired by classical geometric symmetries. We define symmetries relating them to the dihedral group of symmetries of the square, determining the symmetries that can coexist and reconsidering desirable/undesirable symmetry properties for a Bayesian Confirmation Measure.

Keywords: Bayesian Confirmation Measures, symmetries, dihedral group, desirability

JEL Classification: C10, C44, C80