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I'm referring to bayesian inference as described by E. T. Jaynes in "Probability theory: The logic of science":

$$P(\theta \mid X, I) = P(\theta\mid I) \cdot \frac{P(X \mid \theta, I)}{P(X \mid I)}$$

Where $\theta$ is the parameter, $X$ the observed data and $I$ the background information we have about the situation.

If I know that the posterior distribution for $\theta$ satisfies a given constraint, how can I incorporate it into $I$ so that the formula produces an adequate posterior?

Does that question make sense according to Jaynes/Cox objective bayesianism point of view? I.E. can we reasonably have knowledge of some constraint on the posterior? If so, and if there is no way to ensure the produced posterior satisfies the constraint, it this a counter example to this point of view? I'm just trying to get a better grasp of all of this.

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  • $\begingroup$ What kind of constraint? $\endgroup$
    – Tim ♦
    Apr 20, 2018 at 11:09
  • $\begingroup$ I'm not sure I know enough about bayesian inference to specify a good constraint. Any well defined constraint that can't be satisfied by bayes' rule above would do. If I had to give it a try, I'd say the expected value of some function $f(\theta$) is a given constant $C$: (so the formula would be $\int f(\theta) P(\theta \mid X, I) \mathrm{d}\theta = C$ if I'm not mistaken) $\endgroup$
    – Julien__
    Apr 20, 2018 at 11:18

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