The Normal-Form Decision Method in the Combined Calculus

The original decision criterion and method of the combined calculus, presented by D. Hilbert and W. Ackermann, and applied by later logicians, are illuminating, but also go seriously awry and lead the universality and preciseness of the combined calculus to be damaged. The main error is that they confuse the two levels of the combined calculus in the course of calculating. This paper aims to resolve the problem through dividing the levels of the combined calculus, introducing a mixed operation mode, and therefore finding a normal-form decision method approximated by that in sentential logic. Finally, this paper provides a more precise proof of Hauber’s theorem by using the normal-form decision method of the combined calculus.     

Chunk and Permeate,a Paraconsistent Inference Strategy. Part I: The Infinitesimal Calculus

In this paper we introduce a paraconsistent reasoning strategy, Chunk and Permeate. In this, information is broken up into chunks, and a limited amount of information is allowed to flow between chunks. We start by giving an abstract characterisation of the strategy. It is then applied to model the reasoning employed in the original infinitesimal calculus. The paper next establishes some results concerning the legitimacy of reasoning of this kind – specifically concerning the preservation of the consistency of each chunk – and concludes with some other possible applications and technical questions.     

The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and Its Junior Versions

In this article the author describes the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and its junior versions, the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ) and the Children's Personality Questionnaire (CPQ). Development of the tests is described briefly. Reliabilities and validities of the tests are covered, with attention to applications in educational, clinical, and occupational settings.     

Ability and Knowing How in the Situation Calculus

Most agents can acquire information about their environments as they operate. A good plan for such an agent is one that not only achieves the goal, but is also executable, i.e., ensures that the agent has enough information at every step to know what to do next. In this paper, we present a formal account of what it means for an agent to know how to execute a plan and to be able to achieve a goal. Such a theory is a prerequisite for producing specifications of planners for agents that can acquire information at run time. It is also essential to account for cooperation among agents. Our account is more general than previous proposals, correctly handles programs containing loops, and incorporates a solution to the frame problem. It can also be used to prove programs containing sensing actions correct.     

Handling Inconsistencies in the Early Calculus

The early calculus is a popular example of an inconsistent but fruitful scientific theory. This paper is concerned with the formalisation of reasoning processes based on this inconsistent theory. First it is shown how a formal reconstruction in terms of a sub-classical negation leads to triviality. This is followed by the evaluation of the chunk and permeate mechanism (C&P) proposed by Brown and Priest in (Journal of Philosophical Logic, 33(4), 379–388, 2004) to obtain a non-trivial formalisation of the early infinitesimal calculus. Different shortcomings of this application of C&P as an explication of inconsistency tolerant reasoning are pointed out, both conceptual and technical. To remedy these shortcomings, an adaptive logic is proposed that allows for conditional permeations of formulas under the assumption of consistency preservation. First the adaptive logic is defined and explained and thereafter it is demonstrated how this adaptive logic remedies the defects C&P suffered from.     

对纳米结合医学及中医药学的思考

就目前纳米与医学及中医药学结合的几个问题进行了回顾和探讨。首先分析了纳米中药、纳米医学以及纳米中医药学的定义,认为纳米与中医药学的结合将对中医药学的理论体系、临床实践以及中药行业的产业化产生深远的影响。客观地分析了目前对纳米医学及中医药学研究的现状,从学科建设的角度探索了纳米中医药学的研究思路与方法。     

Inference and the taking condition

It has recently been argued that inference essentially involves the thinker taking his premises to support his conclusion and drawing his conclusion because of this fact. However, this Taking Condition has also been criticized: If taking is interpreted as believing, it seems to lead to a vicious regress and to overintellectualize the act of inferring. In this paper, I examine and reject various attempts to salvage the Taking Condition, either by interpreting inferring as a kind of rule‐following, or by finding an innocuous role for the taking‐belief. Finally, I propose an alternative account of taking, according to which it is not a separate belief, but rather an aspect of the attitude of believing: Believing that p implies not only taking p to be true and taking oneself to believe that p, but also taking one's reasons q to support p, when the belief in question is held on account of an inference.     

Reexamining the Calculus of Voting

This study applies social cognitive theory to the study of voter turnout, examining the effects of self‐efficacy on citizens' decisions of whether or not to vote. Consistent with recent arguments in cognitive psychology ( Fenton‐O'Creevy, Nicholson, Soane, & Willman, 2003, 2005 ), I argue that excessive perceptions of self‐efficacy lead some citizens to overestimate their vote's impact in close elections and to vote as a consequence of these perceptions. This illusion of control is further engendered by the features of skill‐based activities such as choice, personal involvement, stimulus familiarity, and exertion of effort ( Langer, 1975 ) that are inherent in the act of voting. Employing both cross‐sectional and panel data, I find that individuals with high levels of self‐efficacy are more likely to be moved to vote by perceptions that an election will be close than are citizens with low levels of self‐efficacy.     

Truth and Inference in Fiction

Philosophical Studies -     

Inference and update

We look at two fundamental logical processes, often intertwined in planning and problem solving: inference and update. Inference is an internal process with which we uncover what is implicit in the information we already have. Update, on the other hand, is produced by external communication, usually in the form of announcements and in general in the form of observations, giving us information that might not have been available (even implicitly) before. Both processes have received attention from the logic community, usually separately. In this work, we develop a logical language that allows us to describe them together. We present syntax, semantics and a complete axiom system; we discuss similarities and differences with other approaches and mention how the work can be extended.     

Evidence and Inference

I articulate a functional characterisation of the concept of evidence, according to which evidence is that which allows us to make inferences that extend our knowledge. This entails Williamson's equation of knowledge with evidence.     

从中医史视角再看中医

近代共识的中医属性是以阴阳五行、辨证论治等为特征的中医理论体系,以治疗慢性病和调理平衡为特点.但对医史的重温,却见中医曾经遏制烈性病的传播、曾经有过启迪性的医学发现,更有近年因发现抗疟药青蒿素使中医得到医学界褒奖.中医属性与这些史实的矛盾提示中医遗产不限于其理论体系,需重新审视中医并调整中医的挖掘和发展战略.     

The Conception of Disease: Its History,its Versions and its Nature by Walther Riese

Leadership in brief training groups requires a high level of skill, energy, and professionalism. The group needs to be led in a purposeful, constructive manner. A metaphor for beneficial leadership is suggested through the image of a mountain guide who sustains and helps members of the group in their exploration of the psychological terrain that is themselves. The leader has five main tasks: (1) to contain the anxieties of the group, (2) quickly establish a therapeutic atmosphere in the group, (3) guide the group toward issues that can be addressed in the time available, (4) guard against damaging self-disclosure and loss of self-esteem, and (5) help the group end well. Clinical vignettes illustrate the realization of these practice points.     

今、帛本《乾》卦卦义考

本文从《周易》的首卦——《乾》卦入手,详实对比分析了帛书《易传》与今本《易传》中的《文言》关于其爻辞的解释,就两者解读的异同展开论证,探究帛书《易传》与今本《易传》之间的关系。     

类别学习中的分类和推理

该文介绍了类别学习中的分类和推理两种任务,并从学习的条件、过程、结果和发展等方面的归纳了当前研究的最新进展。表明了类别的分类学习和推理学习有相同的形式,但学习的信息处理过程和学习的结果不同。分类学习关注类别间的区分性信息,更可能是样例学习结果;推理学习更为关注单个类别内部的共同性信息,更可能是原型学习结果。这方面的结论强化了基于解释的观点。     

中国传统经济伦理及其现代变革论纲

要建设社会主义市场经济体系,必须对传统经济伦理进行根本的变革：(1)变革“重公轻私”的产权伦理;(2)变革“不患贫而患不均”的分配伦理;(3)变革通行于熟人社会的“诚信”道德;(4)变革“家庭主义”。但由于存在着制度变迁的路径依赖,因而“传统经济伦理”的现代变革将是一个相当困难的过程。