Partial monotonicity and a new version of the Ramsey test

We introduce two new belief revision axioms: partial monotonicity and consequence correctness. We show that partial monotonicity is consistent with but independent of the full set of axioms for a Gärdenfors belief revision sytem. In contrast to the Gärdenfors inconsistency results for certain monotonicity principles, we use partial monotonicity to inform a consistent formalization of the Ramsey test within a belief revision system extended by a conditional operator. We take this to be a technical dissolution of the well-known Gärdenfors dilemma.In addition, we present the consequential correctness axiom as a new measure of minimal revision in terms of the deductive core of a proposition whose support we wish to excise. We survey several syntactic and semantic belief revision systems and evaluate them according to both the Gärdenfors axioms and our new axioms. Furthermore, our algebraic characterization of semantic revision systems provides a useful technical device for analysis and comparison, which we illustrate with several new proofs.Finally, we have a new inconsistency result, which is dual to the Gärdenfors inconsistency results. Any elementary belief revision system that is consequentially correct must violate the Gärdenfors axiom of strong boundedness (K^*8), which we characterize as yet another monotonicity condition.This work was supported by the McDonnell Douglas Independent Research and Development program.     

Phonological transformations in conduction aphasia

Different explanations and subtypes of conduction aphasia are analyzed. Characteristics of literal paraphasias in parietal-insular conduction aphasia are discussed, emphasizing that paraphasias in conduction aphasia are articulatory-based (articulatory literal paraphasias) and due mainly to phoneme substitutions and phoneme deletions; they result basically in switches in phoneme manner and place of articulation. Similarities between errors in ideomotor apraxia and conduction aphasia language deficits are presented. It is proposed that language deviations (in oral as in written language) in conduction aphasia can be understood as a segmentary apraxia of speech.     

Relevance and digressions in argumentative discussion: A pragmatic approach

Digressions in argumentative discussion are a kind of failure of relevance. Examination of what actual cases look like reveals several properties of argumentative relevance: (1) The informational relevance of propositions to the truth value of a conclusion should be distinguished from the pragmatic relevance of argumentative acts to the task of resolving a disagreement. (2) Pragmatic irrelevance is a collaborative phenomenon. It does not just short-circuit reasoning; it encourages a failure to take up the demands of an argumentative task. (3) Pragmatic irrelevance can occur not simply by the absence of a connection between what is said and some standpoint in dispute, but also by the presence of a connection between what is said and a competing use of the information. (4) Pragmatic relevance must be accomplished through communicative action.     

Idiothetic inquiry and the toil of Sisyphus

In response to the article by Lamiell and Trierweiler (this issue), we examine the stated epistemological origins of idiothetic proposals for theory and research in personality We argue that the justification for those proposals as advanced by Lamiell and his colleagues is wholely insufficient in view of prior research on the consistency of behavior This assertion together with our identification of problems in scaling personality and personality consistencies lead us to conclude that the pursuit of the idiothetic method is both unwarranted and ineffectual     

WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES: IMPACT AND RESPONSE*

The history of psychological science in the Philippines is considered as a case of cultural diffusion from the West through the English language and the institutions (educational and legal, business and industry, the media, government and the bureaucracy) which adopted the language. The development of academic and professional psychology and of psychology-related services has been phenomenal, particularly in the last decade. It has however, given rise to problems of (1) standards and validity in testing and research, and (2) applicability of concepts and methods in social psychology the roots of which are from another culture. Current trends and issues, as well the movement for indigenous Philippine social psychology, are briefly described.