View source for The logic of the probabilistic language

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{{ArtBy|
| autore = Gianni Frisardi
| autore2 = Riccardo Azzali
| autore3 = Flavio Frisardi
}}
'''Abstract:''' This chapter introduces the concept of probabilistic language and its critical role in medical diagnosis, particularly in cases of diagnostic uncertainty such as that of Mary Poppins, who suffers from Orofacial Pain. Medical diagnoses often rely on deterministic logic, but this is not always sufficient in complex clinical cases where uncertainty plays a significant role. The chapter distinguishes between subjective and objective uncertainties, showing how probabilistic methods help manage these uncertainties. It explains how clinicians apply subjective probability to their beliefs about a diagnosis, while objective probability deals with the statistical likelihood of conditions based on available data.

By analyzing Mary Poppins' case, the chapter emphasizes how probability theory enhances clinical reasoning, particularly when the causal relationships between symptoms and diseases are unclear. Using examples such as Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and Orofacial Pain (OP), the chapter demonstrates how probabilistic-causal analysis assists in determining the causal relevance of various clinical signs and symptoms.

The chapter introduces mathematical formalism to quantify the uncertainty in medical diagnosis, highlighting how partitioning patient data into subsets based on causal relevance improves differential diagnosis. Finally, it explores the limits of probabilistic reasoning in medical language and suggests the need for a more flexible linguistic approach, such as fuzzy logic, to address the inherent uncertainties in medical practice. This prepares the reader for the following chapter on fuzzy logic, offering a broader perspective on managing diagnostic uncertainty.