2,306 research outputs found
Thought about Properties: Why the Perceptual Case is Basic
This paper defends a version of the old empiricist claim that to think about unobservable physical properties a subject must be able to think perception-based thoughts about observable properties. The central argument builds upon foundations laid down by G. E. M. Anscombe and P. F. Strawson. It bridges the gap separating these foundations and the target claim by exploiting a neglected connection between thought about properties and our grasp of causation. This way of bridging the gap promises to introduce substantive constraints on right accounts of perception and perception-based thought
Grafting Hypersequents onto Nested Sequents
We introduce a new Gentzen-style framework of grafted hypersequents that
combines the formalism of nested sequents with that of hypersequents. To
illustrate the potential of the framework, we present novel calculi for the
modal logics and , as well as for extensions of the
modal logics and with the axiom for shift
reflexivity. The latter of these extensions is also known as
in the context of deontic logic. All our calculi enjoy syntactic cut
elimination and can be used in backwards proof search procedures of optimal
complexity. The tableaufication of the calculi for and
yields simplified prefixed tableau calculi for these logic
reminiscent of the simplified tableau system for , which might be
of independent interest
Why Quantum Theory is Possibly Wrong
Quantum theory is a tremendously successful physical theory, but nevertheless
suffers from two serious problems: the measurement problem and the problem of
interpretational underdetermination. The latter, however, is largely overlooked
as a genuine problem of its own. Both problems concern the doctrine of realism,
but pull, quite curiously, into opposite directions. The measurement problem
can be captured such that due to scientific realism about quantum theory common
sense anti-realism follows, while theory underdetermination usually counts as
an argument against scientific realism. I will also consider the more refined
distinctions of ontic and epistemic realism and demonstrate that quantum theory
in its most viable interpretations conflicts with at least one of the various
realism claims. A way out of the conundrum is to come to the bold conclusion
that quantum theory is, possibly, wrong (in the realist sense)
The Grail theorem prover: Type theory for syntax and semantics
As the name suggests, type-logical grammars are a grammar formalism based on
logic and type theory. From the prespective of grammar design, type-logical
grammars develop the syntactic and semantic aspects of linguistic phenomena
hand-in-hand, letting the desired semantics of an expression inform the
syntactic type and vice versa. Prototypical examples of the successful
application of type-logical grammars to the syntax-semantics interface include
coordination, quantifier scope and extraction.This chapter describes the Grail
theorem prover, a series of tools for designing and testing grammars in various
modern type-logical grammars which functions as a tool . All tools described in
this chapter are freely available
Extending the theory of Owicki and Gries with a logic of progress
This paper describes a logic of progress for concurrent programs. The logic
is based on that of UNITY, molded to fit a sequential programming model.
Integration of the two is achieved by using auxiliary variables in a systematic
way that incorporates program counters into the program text. The rules for
progress in UNITY are then modified to suit this new system. This modification
is however subtle enough to allow the theory of Owicki and Gries to be used
without change
- …