ON THE SIGN OF SLOPE IN THE LEARNING OF LINEAR FUNCTIONS

Three groups of subjects were presented with pairs of values ( E and S ) of three different linear functions E = a+bS. In a test phase they had to indicate the E -values that corresponded to the S -values. The values were represented as distances marked on straight lines. Two groups, one a control group, had a positive slope, the third group a negative. The squared sum of the S-E differences was kept constant. All groups had roughly the same performance as measured by the squared sum of deviations from empirical and correct E -values. The learning curves indicated, however, that some learning had taken place in the group with the negative slope. It was concluded that a principle rather than a function was learned.     

Applying modal logic

The main purpose of the paper is to introduce philosophers and philosophical logicians to dynamic logic, a subject which promises to be of interest also to philosophy. A new completeness result involving both after — and during — operators is announced.The work on this paper was supported in part by an Academy of Finland fellowship för längre hunna vetenskapsidkare during the former half of 1979. The paper itself was read as an invited address at the Conference on Practical and Philosophical Motivations of Non-classical Logics held at Toru, August 15–19, 1979.     

Health Survey of Adults with Neurofibromatosis 1 Compared to Population Study Controls

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic, autosomal dominant multi-organ disease characterized by susceptibility to tumor formation, changes in skin pigmentation, skeletal abnormalities, and neuropsychological deficits. Clinical studies have shown impaired health-related quality of life (HQoL) in adults with NF1. However, little is known about HQoL in non-clinical NF1 samples. We conducted a cross-sectional self-report survey of 142 persons with NF1 (M age?=?50.3 years, SD?=?12.0, range 32 to 80; 62.0% females) recruited from non-clinical settings. Several HQoL domains, including life satisfaction, mental health, sleep, pain, gastrointestinal problems, oral health, and social support, were compared between the NF1 sample and 46,293 controls from the HUNT3 population study. We also examined gender differences within the NF1 sample and predictors of HQoL. Compared to controls, the NF1 sample reported significantly poorer life satisfaction, mental health, sleep, and oral health, and more pain, gastrointestinal problems, comorbid diseases, and memory problems. Several HQoL domains were significantly correlated. Mental health was the only unique significant predictor of overall life satisfaction. Women with NF1 reported significantly more mental health, sleep, and pain problems than men with NF1. Mental health assessment and management should be integrated into clinical care of persons with NF1 to potentially improve their HQoL.     

EXPRESSIVISM AND MORAL CERTITUDE

Michael Smith has recently argued that non-cognitivists are unable to accommodate crucial structural features of moral belief, and in particular that non-cognitivists have trouble accounting for subjects' certitude with respect to their moral beliefs. James Lenman and Michael Ridge have independently constructed 'ecumenical' versions of non-cognitivism, intended to block this objection. We argue that these responses do not work. If ecumenical non-cognitivism, a hybrid view which incorporates both non-cognitivist and cognitivist elements, fails to meet Smith's challenge, it is unlikely that 'purer' and more familiar versions of non-cognitivism will succeed.     

Getting started: Beginnings in the logic of action

A history of the logic of action is outlined, beginning with St Anselm. Five modern authors are discussed in some detail: von Wright, Fitch, Kanger, Chellas and Pratt.     

Modal logics with the Macintosh rule

Conclusion Having gained some idea of what MacIntosh logics there are, we conclude this paper with a remark about the totality of them. Let theterritory of a rule or condition be the class of all modal logics that have the rule or satisfy the condition. What is MacIntosh territory, the class of all normal logics with the MacIntosh rule, like? What is its structure?We are especially indebted to Max Cresswell, Rob Goldblatt, Steve Kuhn, Jack MacIntosh, Tamara Ollenberg, and Tim Williamson for very helpful contributions along the way to the present version of this essay. Elements of it were presented by Chellas at a miniconference on Issues in Philosophical and Mathematical Logic, in Devonport, New Zealand, 11–12 May 1991, at a South West Logic Workshop in Seattle, Washington, 20 July 1991, and at a meeting of the Florida Philosophical Association in Boca Raton, Florida, 8 November 1991. We wish to thank all who offered comments at those gatherings. An earlier version of the paper appeared in the Auckland Philosophy Papers series of the Department of Philosophy, University of Auckland, in May 1991.