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A mathematical model of Churchmanian inquiring systems with special reference to Popper's measures for ‘The Severity of Tests’

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Abstract

Through the use of Bayesian probability theory and Communication theory, a formal mathematical model of a Churchmanian Dialectical Inquirer is developed. The Dialectical Inquirer is based on Professor C. West Churchman's novel interpretation and application of Hegelian dialectics to decision theory. The result is not only the empirical application of dialectical inquiry but also its empirical (i.e., scientific) investigation. The Dialectical Inquirer is seen as especially suited to problems in strategic policy formation and in decision theory. Finally, specific application of the inquirer is made to Popper's notions for ‘The Test of Severity’ of a scientific theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Ian I. Mitroff, Frederick Betz & Richard O. Mason

  2. School of Management, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA

    Ian I. Mitroff, Frederick Betz & Richard O. Mason

  3. Graduate School of Business, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

    Ian I. Mitroff, Frederick Betz & Richard O. Mason

Authors
  1. Ian I. Mitroff
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  2. Frederick Betz
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  3. Richard O. Mason
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Additional information

While the authors wish to acknowledge Professor C. West Churchman's kind assistance in the preparation of this paper through the many hours of conversations with him, the authors do not wish to imply that the ideas contained in this paper are necessarily those of Professor Churchman's. This paper represents what Churchman's ideas mean to the authors, not what they necessarily mean to Churchman.

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Mitroff, I.I., Betz, F. & Mason, R.O. A mathematical model of Churchmanian inquiring systems with special reference to Popper's measures for ‘The Severity of Tests’. Theor Decis 1, 155–178 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154004

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