Complement coercion is not modulated by competition: evidence from eye movements

An eye-movement study examined the processing of expressions requiring complement coercion (J. Pustejovsky, 1995), in which a noun phrase that does not denote an event (e.g., the book) appears as the complement of an event-selecting verb (e.g., began the book). Previous studies demonstrated that these expressions are more costly to process than are control expressions that can be processed with basic compositional operations (L. Pylkkanen & B. McElree, 2006). Complement coercion is thought to be costly because comprehenders need to construct an event sense of the complement to satisfy the semantic restrictions of the verb (e.g., began writing the book). The reported experiment tests the alternative hypotheses that the cost arises from the need to select 1 interpretation from several or from competition between alternative interpretations. Expressions with weakly constrained interpretations (no dominant interpretation and several alternative interpretations) were not more costly to process than expressions with a strongly constrained interpretation (1 dominant interpretation and few alternative interpretations). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the cost reflects the on-line construction of an event sense for the complement.     

论信、信念、信仰、宗教信仰的特征及意义

“信”植根于人性之中并且是人之生存、思考和行动的基础。研究信、信念、信仰、宗教信仰的含义、特点及其相互关系具有重要的理论意义和现实意义。信仰作为一种具有超越性的人生终极价值,在很大程度上是和宗教观念联系在一起的。宗教信仰具有个体性、选择性、神圣性等特征。信仰(包括宗教信仰)对人生的重大影响主要表现在:为人生提供终极的基础;为人们提供价值体系中的“应当的应当”;对道德进行聚合和圣化;给人生带来无限的希望;使人生获得真正的自由。     

Faith,Fact, and Behaviorism

David Hume argued that ought cannot be derived from is. That is, no set of facts, no amount of scientific knowledge, is by itself sufficient to urge us to action. Yet generations of well-meaning scientists (more and more as secular influences grow in the West) seem to have forgotten Hume''s words of wisdom. All motivated action depends ultimately on beliefs that cannot be proved by the methods of science, that is, on faith.     

Faith, Reason, and Worldviews

This critical review of Responses to the Enlightenment focuses on the relationship between faith and reason as advanced by Hendrick Hart and William Sweet, respectively. It does so in the context of Enlightenment critique of faith, from which both Hart and Sweet seek to salvage religious faith. While faith as trust is admitted to be performative (Hart), faith is also belief with cognitive content (Sweet). However, faith and reason, as I contend, stand in a dialectical relationship between the need for commitment and understanding at the root of religious as well as secular traditions or worldviews.     

Genetics,Faith, and Responsibility

The Battle of Dover is now concluded; and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution has won the legal day. The Theory of Evolution in the Darwainian and neo-Darwinian form is a very fertile theory; it generates hypotheses and research programs that lead to new knowledge. Even as a secular pursuit of knowledge, Christians appreciate science.

What the Christian community cannot tolerate is second-rate science; and it especially eschews pseudo-science. We ask for a general commitment; support the best science in our schools and laboratories as an expression of our Christian faith. In light of the public controversy regarding alternatives to teaching Darwinian science in our public schools, we offer six recommendations.     

Faith,Belief and Fictionalism

Is propositional religious faith constituted by belief? Recent debate has focussed on whether faith may be constituted by a positive non‐doxastic cognitive state, which can stand in place of belief. This article sets out and defends the doxastic theory. We consider and reject three arguments commonly used in favour of non‐doxastic theories of faith: (1) the argument from religious doubt; (2) the use of ‘faith’ in linguistic utterances; and (3) the possibility of pragmatic faith. We argue that belief is required to maintain a distinction between genuine faith, pretend faith, and fictionalist faith.     

Faith,reason and knowledge

Valueware: Technology, Humanity and Organization Christopher Barnatt Praeger Publishers, Praeger Studies on the 21st Century, Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, CT. 1998, 228 pp, references, chapter notes and index. Paperback, ISBN: 0–275–967 15–8, $22.95 USD

Looking Down the Road: A Systems Approach to Futures Studies Douglas Raybeck Waveland Press, Inc., Prospect Heights, IL. 2000, 131 pp., appendix, bibliography and index. Paperback, ISBN: 1–57766–116–8, $10.95 USD