Table Of ContentPATRICK SUPPES
PROFILES
AN INTERNATIONAL SERIES
ON CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHERS
AND LOGICIANS
EDITORS
RADU J. BOGDAN, Stanford University
ILKKA NIINILUOTO, University of Helsinki
EDITORIAL BOARD
D. F0LLESDAL, University of Oslo
S. KORNER, University of Bristol
J.J.C. SMART, La Trobe University
w. STEGMULLER, Universitiit Munchen
P. SUPPES, Stanford Unil'ersity
K. SZANIA WSKI, University of Warsall'
J. VUILLEMIN, College de France
VOLUME I
P A TRICK SUPPES
Edited by
RADU J. BOGDAN
Stanford University
D. REIDEL PUBLISHING COMPANY
DORDRECHT : HOLLAND / BOSTON: U.S.A.
LONDON: ENGLAND
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Patrick Suppes.
(Profiles; v. I)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Suppes, Patrick Colonel, 1922- -Addresses, essays,
lectures. 2. Philosophers-United States-Biography-Addresses,
essays, lectures. I. Bogdan, Radu J. II. Series: Profiles (Dordrecht);
v. 1.
B945.S95P37 191 78-21095
ISBN-13: 978-90-277-0951-6 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-9397-6
001: 10.1007/978-94-009-9397-6
Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company,
P. O. Box 17, Dordrecht, Holland.
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by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Inc.
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All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 1979 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t Edition 1979
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION VII
PREFACE m
Part One I
PAT RIC K SUP PES - A Self Profile 3
Part Two 57
CARLOS-ULISES MOULINES & JOSEPH D. SNEED-
Suppes' Philosophy of Physics 59
R. DUNCAN LUCE - Suppes' Contributions to the
Theory of Measurement 93
ROGER D. ROSENKRANTZ - Suppes on Probability,
Utility, and Decision Theory III
RICHARD E. GRANDY - Suppes' Contribution to
Logic and Linguistics 131
WILLIAM H. BATCHELDER & KENNETH WEXLER-
Suppes' Work in the Foundations of Psychology 149
DEAN T. JAMISON - Suppes' Contribution to Education 187
PATRICK SUPPES - Replies 207
Part Three 233
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PATRICK SUPPES 235
INDEX OF NAMES 259
INDEX OF SUBJECTS 262
EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
The aim of this series is to inform both professional philosophers and
a larger readership (of social and natural scientists, methodologists,
mathematicians, students, teachers, publishers, etc.) about what is
going on, who's who, and who does what in contemporary philosophy and
logic. PROFILES is designed to present the research activity and the
results of already outstanding personalities and schools and of newly
emerging ones in the various fields of philosophy and logic. There are
many Festschrift volumes dedicated to various philosophers. There is
the celebrated Library of Living Philosophers edited by P.A. Schilpp
whose format influenced the present enterprise. Still they can only cover
very little of the contemporary philosophical scene. Faced with a tremen
dous expansion of philosophical information and with an almost frighten
ing division of labor and increasing specialization we need systematic and
regular ways of keeping track of what happens in the profession. PRO
FILES is intended to perform such a function.
Each volume is devoted to one or several philosophers whose views
and results are presented and discussed. The profiled philosopher(s) will
summarize and review his (their) own work in the main fields of signifi
cant contribution. This work will be discussed and evaluated by invited
contributors. Relevant historical and/or biographical data, an up-to-date
bibliography with short abstracts of the most important works and,
whenever possible, references to significant reviews and discussions will
also be included.
Since rigorous argumentation and a rational approach to philosophical
problems are among the most worthwhile trends in contemporary philoso
phical thought, PROiI LES will give priority to surveys of the work of
vii
INTRODUCTION
authors and schools of thought that meet these standards. However, this
preference allows for a broad spectrum of philosophical and methodolog
ical viewpoints. As a vehicle of information about, and systematization of,
contemporary philosophical and logical knowledge, PROFILES will strive
to report on any major contribution to that body of knowledge, be it
personal or collective. PROFILES will also report on research and new
projects that, although still esoteric and even tentative, may be expected
to become seminal and influential in some field of philosophical or logical
studies. The sooner the information about such new ventures is dissemin
ated and systematized, the greater will be its impact on undergraduate and
graduate students, researchers, teachers on all levels, editors, publishers,
university and foundation managers, etc.
The editors will welcome information on personal and collective re
search in progress, Ph.D. theses, surveys and monographs dealing with
individual philosophers and schools of thought working in contemporary
philosophy and logic.
We expect to publish one or two volumes yearly.
RADU 1. BOGDAN ILKKA NIINILUOTO
Stanford University University of Helsinki
viii
PREFACE
By the very nature of this series the profilees need no introduction. The
volumes themselves are designed to provide one. But there are some
things to be said about the making of this volume.
The volume has three major parts. Part One contains the Self Profile
written by Patrick Suppes. It is an intellectual autobiography, a pre
sentation of his professional activity, a summary of its results up to the
present, i.e. close to mid-1978, and an occasion for reflection and review.
We have decided to classify Suppes' research and publications into the
following major fields: (i) foundations of physics, (ii) theory of meas
urement, (iii) decision theory, probability, and causality, (iv) founda
tions of psychology, (v) philosophy of language, and (vi) education and
computers. Of course, many of Suppes' works go beyond this classifica
tion while many others fall into two or more of these fields. Still the
classification reflects Suppes' main areas of scientific and philosophic
interest.
In Part Two, distinguished contributors review and discuss Suppes'
work and results in each of the above fields. Replies by Suppes conclude
this part. Part Three is a complete bibliography of Suppes' published and
forthcoming works. Some of the most important publications are con
cisely presented by their author. In order to save space and achieve some
homogeneity all references, in Suppes' Self Profile and Replies, to works
of which he is the, or an, author can be found in this final bibliography.
The contributed papers have self-contained bibliographies whereas the
parts written by Suppes contain only references to works of other authors.
This volume inaugurates a series whose prehistory should be briefly
told. Some years ago, while in Romania, I started a series of handy,
ix
PREFACE
informative volumes intended to acquaint a national audience of students
and scholars in philosophy and related disciplines with the state of philoso
phy abroad and with some of its most active practitioners. With the enthus
iastic and consistent support of Dr. Mircea Ioanid, a man of great vision
and deeds to whom I am deeply indebted, several volumes were published.
When, due to various circumstances, the original enterprise had to be
abandoned, a new international edition took off in a new format with a
new publisher. But the original intent of PROFILES survives.
Through their confidence, encouragement and advice, many people
have helped PROFILES in its new life. It is a tribute to the widespread
support that we had and have that my fellow editor Ilkka Niiniluoto and
myself find it difficult to list the names of all those to whom we are grateful
and indebted. Without some of them this first volume would hardly have
been possible. Although extremely busy, Patrick Suppes was an ideal
profilee to work with. He faced the editorial constraints with grace, added
many suggestions, and supported the whole enterprise in many ways.
Marguerite Shaw did much more than typing and correcting most of the
manuscript, putting together the bibliography, and helping at each stage
of the editorial process. I can hardly imagine this volume without her
wonderful assistance. And I can hardly imagine my work during this
period without the love and understanding of my wife, Catalina.
Stanford, May 1978 RADU J. BOGDAN
x
PART ONE
