On Representation Theorems

Mikael Cozic (Paris) gives a talk at the MCMP Colloquium (22 November, 2012) titled "On Representation Theorems". Abstract: Contemporary decision theory attaches much importance to representation theorems. Representation theorems are mathematical results which establish the equivalence between criteria of preferences and choices among options (e.g., expected utility) and axioms on preferences (e.g., transitivity or independence). Distinct roles can be assigned to these results. One of them is semantic: according to this view, representation theorems allow one to define decision-theoretic involved in the criteria of evaluation (e.g., subjective probability and utility on outcomes for the criterion of expected utility). The aim of this paper is to assess this semantic function by relying on philosophical views on the meaning of theoretical terms.