NETMET: A Program for Generating and Interpreting Metaphors

Metaphors have computable semantics. A program called NETMET both generates metaphors and produces partial literal interpretations of metaphors. NETMET is based on Kittay's semantic field theory of metaphor and Black's interaction theory of metaphor. Input to NETMET consists of a list of literal propositions. NETMET creates metaphors by finding topic and source semantic fields, producing an analogical map from source to topic, then generating utterances in which terms in the source are identified with or predicated of terms in the topic. Given a metaphor, NETMET utilizes if-then rules to generate the implication complex of that metaphor. The literal leaves of the implication complex comprise a partial literal interpretation

Ranking relations using analogies in biological and information networks

Analogical reasoning depends fundamentally on the ability to learn and generalize about relations between objects. We develop an approach to relational learning which, given a set of pairs of objects $\mathbf{S}=\{A^{(1)}:B^{(1)},A^{(2)}:B^{(2)},\ldots,A^{(N)}:B ^{(N)}\}$, measures how well other pairs A:B fit in with the set $\mathbf{S}$. Our work addresses the following question: is the relation between objects A and B analogous to those relations found in $\mathbf{S}$? Such questions are particularly relevant in information retrieval, where an investigator might want to search for analogous pairs of objects that match the query set of interest. There are many ways in which objects can be related, making the task of measuring analogies very challenging. Our approach combines a similarity measure on function spaces with Bayesian analysis to produce a ranking. It requires data containing features of the objects of interest and a link matrix specifying which relationships exist; no further attributes of such relationships are necessary. We illustrate the potential of our method on text analysis and information networks. An application on discovering functional interactions between pairs of proteins is discussed in detail, where we show that our approach can work in practice even if a small set of protein pairs is provided.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AOAS321 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Vers un modèle théorique du transfert : les contraintes à respecter

Cet article relève différentes contraintes requises pour l'élaboration d'un modèle théorique du transfert, contraintes éventuellement sous-jacentes à des interventions pédagogiques plus efficaces. Deux principes sont d'abord formulés: a) le transfert constitue un processus économique et adaptatif qui permet au système cognitif de contourner certaines de ses limites; b) le transfert s'inscrit dans une démarche de résolution de problème dirigée selon une structure de buts. L'autrice examine ensuite les principaux courants théoriques concernant le transfert, dont le concept de similarité et l'articulation des divers sous-processus du transfert (accès aux connaissances antérieures, mise en correspondance, évaluation, adaptation). L'article prend fin en soulignant l'intérêt des recherches sur la catégorisation et sur le raisonnement par cas comme moyens d'approfondissement des mécanismes facilitant l'accessibilité et l'adaptation.This article describes various constraints involved in the elaboration of a theoretical model of transfer; these constraints being the underpinnings of more efficient pedagogical intervention. Two principles are noted: a) transfer constitutes a process that is economical and adaptive which permits the cognitive system to take into account certain of its limitations; and b) transfer is part of a problem-solving procedure which is directed by objectives. The author then examines the current theoretical positions concerning transfer, among which are the concepts of similiarity and articulation of various sub-processes (access to previous knowledge, correspondence between elements, evaluation, and adaptation). Finally, the author underlines the value of research on categorization and reasoning from case studies as a means to understand mechanisms which facilitate accessibility and adaptation.Este articulo hace resaltar las distintas restricciones requeridas en la elaboracion de un modelo teorico de la transferencia, restricciones eventualmente subyacentes en intervenciones pedagogicas mas eficaces. Se formulan de antemano dos principios: a) que la transferencia constituye un proceso economico y adaptativo que permite al sistema cognoscitivo de superar algunos de sus limites; b) que la transferencia se inscribe dentro de un proceso de solucion de problemas dirigido por una estructura de metas. La autora examina las principales corrientes teôricas sobre la transferencia, en particular el concepto de similitud y la articulation de los distintos subprocesos de transferencia (acceso a conocimientos anteriores, puesta en correspondencia, evaluation, adaptacion). El artïculo termina subrayando el interés que presentan los estudios sobre la clasificacion y el razonamiento por casos, como medios para profundizar los mecanismos que facilitan el acceso y la adaptacion.Dieser Axtikel zahlt verschiedene Bedingungen auf, die man bei dem Aufstellen eines theoretischenTransfermodells beriicksichtigen muss. Diese Bedingungen sind môglicherweise Vorraussetzungen fur wirksamere pàdagogische Arbeit. Zunàchst werden zwei Grundsâtze formuliert: a) Transfer ist ein ôkonomischer und adaptiver Prozess, der es dem Kognitionssystem ermôglicht, bestimmte Grenzen zu uberschreiten; b) der Transfer findet innerhalb des zweckstrukturgemàfi eingesetzten Problemlôsungsprozesses statt. Die Autorin untersucht anschliefiend die wichtigsten theoretischen Tendenzen hinsichtlich des Transfers, u. a. den Begriffder Àhnlichkeit und die Aufteilung des Transfers in verschiedene kleinere Prozesse (Zugang zu friiherem Wissen, Suche nach Ûbereinstimmungen, Nachprùfung, Anpassung). Schliefilich wird die Bedeutung der Forschungsarbeiten uber die Kategorisierung und das fallbezogene Schlussfolgern hervorgehoben, insofern, als sie zu einem tieferen Verstàndnis der Mechanismen fuhren, die die Zugânglichkeit und die Anpassung erleicherten

Deduction without dogmas: the case of moral analogical argumentation

In a recent paper, Fábio Perin Shecaira (2013) proposes a defence of Waller’s deductivist schema for moral analogical argumentation. This defence has several flaws, the most important of them being that many good analogical arguments would be deemed bad or deficient. Additionally, Shecaira misrepresents my alternative account as something in between deductivism and non-deductivism. This paper is both an attempt at solving this misunderstanding and an analysis and criticism of Waller and Shecaira’s forms of deductivism.Dans un article récent, Fábio Perin Shecaira (2013) défend l’approche déductiviste de Waller pour évaluer des arguments par analogie traitant de sujets moraux. Cette défense a plusieurs défauts, le plus important d'entre eux est que plusieurs bons arguments par analogie seraient jugés mauvais ou faibles. En outre, Shecaira dénature mon approche alternative en la décrivant comme quelque chose entre un déductivisme et un non déductivisme. Je tente à la fois de résoudre ce malentendu et d’offrir une analyse et une critique des formes de deductivisme de Waller et de Shecaira.The work presented in this paper has been financed by a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and by the research projects FFI2011-23125 and FFI2011-24414 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation

Overextension in Early Language Development

This research explored overextension in the early vocabularies of six children, followed in a language diary study from 0 to 8. Results indicated that only one-third of the first 75 words acquired by each child were overextended. A small set of high-frequency, early acquired words accounted for a disproportionate number of overextensions. Overextensions were classified into three types: categorical overinclusions, analogical overextensions and predicate statements. Four types of information served as the bases for word applications: perceptual, action-functional, affective and contextual. The use of words to denote associative complexes of a well-organized, systematic character was discussed as a characteristic form of early word usage

THE METAPHYSICS OF SIMILARITY AND ANALOGICAL REASONING

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2018

Overextension in Early Language Development

This research explored overextension in the early vocabularies of six children, followed in a language diary study from 0 to 8. Results indicated that only one-third of the first 75 words acquired by each child were overextended. A small set of high-frequency, early acquired words accounted for a disproportionate number of overextensions. Overextensions were classified into three types: categorical overinclusions, analogical overextensions and predicate statements. Four types of information served as the bases for word applications: perceptual, action-functional, affective and contextual. The use of words to denote associative complexes of a well-organized, systematic character was discussed as a characteristic form of early word usage

Biosemiosis and Causation: Defending Biosemiotics Through Rosen's Theoretical Biology, or, Integrating Biosemiotics and Anticipatory Systems Theory

The fracture in the emerging discipline of biosemiotics when the code biologist Marcello Barbieri claimed that Peircian biosemiotics is not genuine science raises anew the question: What is science? When it comes to radically new approaches in science, there is no simple answer to this question, because if successful, these new approaches change what is understood to be science. This is what Galileo, Darwin and Einstein did to science, and with quantum theory, opposing interpretations are not merely about what theory is right, but what is real science. Peirce's work, as he acknowledged, is really a continuation of efforts of Schelling to challenge the heritage of Newtonian science for the very good reason that the deep assumptions of Newtonian science had made sentient life, human consciousness and free will unintelligible, the condition for there being science. Pointing out the need for such a revolution in science has not succeeded as a defence of Peircian biosemiotics, however. In this paper, I will defend the scientific credentials of Peircian biosemiotics by relating it to the theoretical biology of the bio-mathematician, Robert Rosen. Rosen's relational biology, focusing on anticipatory systems and giving a place to final causes, should also be seen as a rigorous development of the Schellingian project to conceive nature in such a way that the emergence of sentient life, mind and science are intelligible. Rosen has made a very strong case for the characterization of his ideas as a real advance not only in science, but in how science should be understood, and I will argue that it is possible to provide a strong defence of Peircian biosemiotics as science through Rosen's defence of relational biology. In the process, I will show how biosemiotics can and should become a crucial component of anticipatory systems theory