Matthew L. Ginsberg

Arguments are presented in favor of the answer "yes". The intuitive appeal (or lack thereof) of probabilities is considered briefly. The theoretical adequacies of probabilistic methods are investigated by considering them in light of McCarthy's "typology of uses of non-monotonic reasoning." A quantitative approach which overcomes the usual need for a priori probabilities is presented. Some of the practical advantages of using probabilities in a production system are described.