Probability, propensity and probabilities of propensities (and of probabilities)

Abstract

The process of doing Science in condition of uncertainty is illustrated with a toy experiment in which the inferential and the forecasting aspects are both present. The fundamental aspects of probabilistic reasoning, also relevant in real life applications, arise quite naturally and the resulting discussion among non-ideologized, free-minded people offers an opportunity for clarifications.Comment: Invited contribution to the proceedings MaxEnt 2016 based on the talk given at the workshop (Ghent, Belgium, 10-15 July 2016), supplemented by work done within the program Probability and Statistics in Forensic Science at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridg