511 research outputs found
Experimenting with (Conditional) Perfection
Conditional perfection is the phenomenon in which conditionals are strengthened to biconditionals. In some contexts, “If A, B” is understood as if it meant “A if and only if B.” We present and discuss a series of experiments designed to test one of the most promising pragmatic accounts of conditional perfection. This is the idea that conditional perfection is a form of exhaustification—that is a strengthening to an exhaustive reading, triggered by a question that the conditional answers. If a speaker is asked how B comes about, then the answer “If A, B” is interpreted exhaustively to meaning that A is the only way to bring about B. Hence, “A if and only if B.” We uncover evidence that conditional perfection is a form of exhaustification, but not that it is triggered by a relationship to a salient question
Retracts of vertex sets of trees and the almost stability theorem
Let G be a group, let T be an (oriented) G-tree with finite edge stabilizers,
and let VT denote the vertex set of T. We show that, for each G-retract V' of
the G-set VT, there exists a G-tree whose edge stabilizers are finite and whose
vertex set is V'. This fact leads to various new consequences of the almost
stability theorem. We also give an example of a group G, a G-tree T and a
G-retract V' of VT such that no G-tree has vertex set V'.Comment: 15 pages, 0 figures. Formerly titled "Some refinements of the almost
stability theorem". Version
Steady-state negative Wigner functions of nonlinear nanomechanical oscillators
We propose a scheme to prepare nanomechanical oscillators in nonclassical
steady states, characterized by a pronounced negative Wigner function. In our
optomechanical approach, the mechanical oscillator couples to multiple laser
driven resonances of an optical cavity. By lowering the resonance frequency of
the oscillator via an inhomogeneous electrostatic field, we significantly
enhance its intrinsic geometric nonlinearity per phonon. This causes the
motional sidebands to split into separate spectral lines for each phonon number
and transitions between individual phonon Fock states can be selectively
addressed. We show that this enables the preparation of the nanomechanical
oscillator in a single phonon Fock state. Our scheme can for example be
implemented with a carbon nanotube dispersively coupled to the evanescent field
of a state of the art whispering gallery mode microcavity
Nonlinear nanomechanical resonators for quantum optoelectromechanics
We present a scheme for tuning and controlling nano mechanical resonators by
subjecting them to electrostatic gradient fields, provided by nearby tip
electrodes. We show that this approach enables access to a novel regime of
optomechanics, where the intrinsic nonlinearity of the nanoresonator can be
explored. In this regime, one or several laser driven cavity modes coupled to
the nanoresonator and suitably adjusted gradient fields allow to control the
motional state of the nanoresonator at the single phonon level. Some
applications of this platform have been presented previously [New J. Phys. 14,
023042 (2012), Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 120503 (2013)]. Here, we provide a
detailed description of the corresponding setup and its optomechanical coupling
mechanisms, together with an in-depth analysis of possible sources of damping
or decoherence and a discussion of the readout of the nanoresonator state.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Claim Strength and Burden of Proof
In this paper, we report results from experiments in which people read conversational arguments and then judge (a) the convincingness of each claim and (b) the individual speakers\u27 burden of proof. The results showed an anti-primacy effect: People judge the speaker who makes the first claim as having greater burden of proof. This effect persists even when each speaker\u27s claims are rated equally convincing. We also find that people rate claims less convincing when they appear in the first part of an argument than when they appear in isolation
Good decisions, good causes: Optimality as a constraint on attribution of causal responsibility
How do we assign causal responsibility for others’ decisions? The present experiments examine the possibility that an optimality constraint is used in these attributions, with agents considered less responsible for outcomes when the decisions that led to those outcomes were suboptimal. Our first two experiments investigate scenarios in which agents are choosing among multiple options, varying the efficacy of the forsaken alternatives to examine the role of optimality in attributing responsibility. Experiment 3 tests whether optimality considerations also play a role in attribution of causality more generally. Taken together, these studies indicate that optimality constraints are used in lay decision theory and in causal judgment
How similar are objects and events?
Semanticists often assume an ontology for natural language that includes not only ordinary objects, but also events, and other sorts of entities. We link this ontology to how speakers represent static and dynamic entities. Specifically, we test how speakers determine whether an entity counts as “atomic” by using count vs. mass (e.g., some gleebs, some gleeb) and distributive vs. non-distributive descriptions (e.g., gleeb every second or so, gleeb around a little). We then seek evidence for atomic representation in a non-linguistic task. Ultimately we suggest that natural language ontology reveals properties of language-independent conceptualization
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