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arXiv · 2202.04513

The no-free-lunch theorems of supervised learning

Tom F. Sterkenburg·Peter D. Grünwald
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Abstract

The no-free-lunch theorems promote a skeptical conclusion that all possible machine learning algorithms equally lack justification. But how could this leave room for a learning theory, that shows that some algorithms are better than others? Drawing parallels to the philosophy of induction, we point out that the no-free-lunch results presuppose a conception of learning algorithms as purely data-driven. On this conception, every algorithm must have an inherent inductive bias, that wants justification. We argue that many standard learning algorithms should rather be understood as model-dependent: in each application they also require for input a model, representing a bias. Generic algorithms themselves, they can be given a model-relative justification.

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Tom F. Sterkenburg, Peter D. Grünwald. 2022-02-09. The no-free-lunch theorems of supervised learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-021-03233-1

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