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Cosmological Model Selection and Akaike’s Criterion

Arledge, Christopher S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430478203

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Philosophy (Arts and Sciences).
Contemporary cosmology is teeming with model underdetermination and cosmologists are looking for methods with which to relieve some of this underdetermination. One such method that has found its way into cosmology in recent years is the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The criterion is meant to select the model that loses the least amount of information in its approximation of the data, and furthermore AIC shows a preference for simplicity by containing a penalty term that penalizes models with excessive complexity. The principle aim of this paper is to investigate some of the strengths and weaknesses of AIC against two philosophical backdrops in order to determine its usefulness in cosmological model selection. The backdrops or positions against which AIC will be assessed are I) realist and II) antirealist. It will be argued that on both of these positions there is at least one feature of AIC that proves problematic for the satisfaction of the aims of the position.
Philip Ehrlich (Advisor)
John Norton (Committee Member)
Yoichi Ishida (Committee Member)
37 p.
Philosophy; Philosophy of Science
philosophy; philosophy of cosmology; philosophy of science; AIC; cosmological modeling; model selection

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Arledge, C. S. (2015). Cosmological Model Selection and Akaike’s Criterion [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430478203

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Arledge, Christopher. Cosmological Model Selection and Akaike’s Criterion. 2015. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430478203.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Arledge, Christopher. "Cosmological Model Selection and Akaike’s Criterion." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430478203

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1430478203
376
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.