The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory) [Hardcover]

James M. Joyce (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521641640 | ISBN-13: 978-0521641647 | Publication Date: April 13, 1999

This book defends the view that any adequate account of rational decision making must take a decision maker's beliefs about causal relations into account. The early chapters of the book introduce the nonspecialist to the rudiments of expected utility theory. The major technical advance offered by the book is a "representation theorem" that shows that both causal decision theory and its main rival, Richard Jeffrey's logic of decision, are both instances of a more general conditional decision theory. In providing the most complete and robust defense of causal decision theory the book will be of interest to a broad range of readers in philosophy, economics, psychology, mathematics, and artificial intelligence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author writes in a style that is on the one hand entertaining and lighthearted and on the other hand highly technical in its analysis of axiomatic foundations. Readers who are interested in theoretical, prescriptive decision making from a philosophical perspective will find this a valuable book." Journal of Mathematical Psychology

"This book makes a significant contribution to the standard decision theory." Chrisw Swoyer Univ. of Oklahoma

Book Description

This book defends the view that any adequate account of rational decision making must take a decision maker's beliefs about causal relations into account. The early chapters of the book introduce the non-specialist to the rudiments of expected utitlity theory. The major technical advance offered by the book is a "representation theorem" that shows that both causal decision theory and its main rival, Richard Jeffrey's logic of decision, are both instances of a more general conditional decision theory. In providing the most complete and robust defense of causal decision theory the book will be of interest to a broad range of readers in philosophy, economics, psychology, mathematics, and artificial intelligence.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (April 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521641640
• ISBN-13: 978-0521641647
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,434,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best decision theory novel I've read!, February 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory) (Hardcover)

I must respectfully disagree with the review entitled 'Not Who It Seems.' Yes, this isn't a hitherto unknown work by the James Joyce most readers know. But its literary virtues rival those of any novel by the Irishman. The previous reviewer's three stars are ungenerous. I can empathize with his disappointment in discovering, contrary to reasonable expectation, that _The Foundations of Casual Decision Theory_ is not a sequel to _Ulysses_. But it's a page-turner nonetheless. Any causalist about decision theory sharing living space with an evidentialist about decision theory, or any evidentialist sharing living space with a causalist, will moreover find this book a treasure trove of practical insight easily applicable to those tense moments across the breakfast table -- praise I wouldn't extend to the writings of that other James Joyce. For some readers, this book will prove a godsend.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A godsend indeed! It saved my marriage!, February 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory) (Hardcover)

I concur with the previous reviewer: this book is just the tonic an evidentialist married to a causalist may need in order to keep conflicting intuitions about Newcomb's Problem from tearing asunder hearth, home, and in the process emotional health. "One boxer or two?" was the theme of many an acrimonious evening in my home till my husband and I took the advice of this book and simply stopped asking the question. We bought a poodle.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a subjective utility function?, May 26, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory) (Hardcover)

Perhaps this is a book better suited for a philosophy reader than someone in economics or statistics. Though any reader wanting something useful out of this will need to be very versed in the fundamentals of statistics and probability.

Joyce examines the key idea in economics, that a player wants to maximise her utility function. But there is a crucial degree of subjectivity in her perception or analysis of this function. Joyce takes a deep look at how this can be done. And at the idea that the player's possible future actions can alter her utility. Whereas often, simpler texts might posit or derive a utility that is objective.