Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who holds the doctrine of probabilism.
  • noun One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern faith and practice.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern our faith and actions.
  • noun (Casuistry) One who maintains that a man may do that which has a probability of being right, or which is inculcated by teachers of authority, although other opinions may seem to him still more probable.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Someone who studies probability, a particular branch of mathematics.
  • noun A follower of probabilism.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Lewis, like Reichenbach a probabilist at heart, insisted that the assessment and revision of probabilities in the light of experience requires that some propositions obtained from experience be certain, or as he put it, “if anything is probable, something must be certain.”

    Hans Reichenbach Glymour, Clark 2008

  • Although the literature on universal probability bounds dates back to the French probabilist Emile Borel, it seems not to have been engaged by the Bible Code researchers.

    The Panda's Thumb: February 2006 Archives 2006

  • Although the literature on universal probability bounds dates back to the French probabilist Emile Borel, it seems not to have been engaged by the Bible Code researchers.

    Dembski and the Bible Code - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • A probabilist, or Bayesian if you prefer, will be most unhappy with this misuse of the word “belief”.

    The 'rest of the story' - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • Harry Pitt, who was an excellent pure mathematician and probabilist.

    Clive W.J. Granger - Autobiography 2004

  • The thorough-going probabilist will translate this into “With probability almost, but not quite one: the sun is shining.”

    The 'rest of the story' - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • A thorough-going probabilist is the most skeptical of all men, exceeding even David Hume.

    The 'rest of the story' - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • A probabilist translates this as “With high probability, despite the lack of evidence, …”.

    The 'rest of the story' - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • The probabilist recommends used Bayesian techniques to the extent possible to sort out the probable consequences of various actions.

    The 'rest of the story' - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • * If you hold that the less safe opinion can be followed only if it is solidly probable, but that if it is you can follow it even if the safe opinion is more probable, you are a probabilist.

    Casuistry 2005

Comments

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  • Though pains of the past still endure

    What oracle forecasts a cure?

    For that job enlist

    A probabalist -

    Mistrust any sage who’s too sure.

    October 17, 2017