scholarly journals A diachronic perspective on peer disagreement in veritistic social epistemology

Synthese ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 197 (10) ◽  
pp. 4475-4493
Author(s):  
Erik J. Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Social Epistemology ◽  
Main Issue ◽  
Simulation Framework ◽  
Peer Disagreement ◽  
Simulation Techniques ◽  
Meta Level ◽  
Veritistic Value ◽  
Bayesian Simulation ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The main issue in the epistemology of peer disagreement is whether known disagreement among those who are in symmetrical epistemic positions undermines the rationality of their maintaining their respective views. Douven and Kelp have argued convincingly that this problem is best understood as being about how to respond to peer disagreement repeatedly over time, and that this diachronic issue can be best approached through computer simulation. However, Douven and Kelp’s favored simulation framework cannot naturally handle Christensen’s famous Mental Math example. As a remedy, I introduce an alternative (Bayesian) simulation framework, Laputa, inspired by Alvin Goldman’s seminal work on veritistic social epistemology. I show that Christensen’s conciliatory response, reasonably reconstructed and supplemented, gives rise to an increase in epistemic (veritistic) value only if the peers continue to recheck their mental math; else the peers might as well be steadfast. On a meta-level, the study illustrates the power of Goldman’s approach when combined with simulation techniques for handling the computational issues involved.

scholarly journals A Simulation Approach to Veritistic Social Epistemology

Episteme ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Social Epistemology ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Simulation Environment ◽  
False Beliefs ◽  
Concrete Case ◽  
Large Classes ◽  
Computational Problem ◽  
Veritistic Value

In a seminal book, Alvin I. Goldman outlines a theory for how to evaluate social practices with respect to their “veritistic value”, i.e., their tendency to promote the acquisition of true beliefs (and impede the acquisition of false beliefs) in society. In the same work, Goldman raises a number of serious worries for his account. Two of them concern the possibility of determining the veritistic value of a practice in a concrete case because (1) we often don't know what beliefs are actually true, and (2) even if we did, the task of determining the veritistic value would be computationally extremely difficult. Neither problem is specific to Goldman's theory and both can be expected to arise for just about any account of veritistic value. It is argued here that the first problem does not pose a serious threat to large classes of interesting practices. The bulk of the paper is devoted to the computational problem, which, it is submitted, can be addressed in promising terms by means of computer simulation. In an attempt to add vividness to this proposal, an up-and-running simulation environment (Laputa) is presented and put to some preliminary tests.

Three-dimensional predator–prey interactions: a computer simulation of bird flocks and aircraft

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 2624-2633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter F. Major ◽  
Lawrence M. Dill ◽  
David M. Eaves
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Aircraft Engines ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Simulation Techniques ◽  
Computer Simulation Techniques ◽  
Individual Prey

Three-dimensional interactions between grouped aerial predators (frontal discs of aircraft engines), either linearly arrayed or clustered, and flocks of small birds were studied using interactive computer simulation techniques. Each predator modelled was orders of magnitude larger than an individual prey, but the prey flock was larger than each predator. Expected numbers of individual prey captured from flocks were determined for various predator speeds and trajectories, flock–predator initial distances and angles, and flock sizes, shapes, densities, trajectories, and speeds. Generally, larger predators and clustered predators caught more prey. The simulation techniques employed in this study may also prove useful in studies of predator–prey interactions between schools or swarms of small aquatic prey species and their much larger vertebrate predators, such as mysticete cetaceans.The study also provides a method to study problems associated with turbine aircraft engine damage caused by the ingestion of small flocking birds, as well as net sampling of organisms in open aquatic environments.

Discussion of computer simulation techniques and comparison of languages

SIMULATION ◽  
1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tiechroew ◽  
John Francis Lubin ◽  
Thomas D. Truitt
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Computer Languages ◽  
Simulation Techniques ◽  
Simulation Languages ◽  
Software Packages ◽  
Univer Sity ◽  
Computer Simulation Techniques

A draft of this paper was prepared for the Workshop on Simu lation Languages, Graduate School of Business, Stanford Univer sity, March 6 and 7, 1964. The paper has benefited from sugges tions from participants at the Workshop, particularly Michael Montalbano, and from projects carried out by students in the Graduate School of Business: H. Barnett, H. Guichelaar, Lloyd Krause, John P. Seagel, Charles Turk, Victor Preisser. The paper has also benefited from discussions held in connection with the Workshop on Simulation Languages, University of Pennsylvania, March 17 and 18, 1966. Characteristics of computer languages and software packages change rapidly. Some statements in the paper were originally intended for the situation current in March, 1964. Where signifi cant changes have occurred the text has been modified.

SIMULATION OF SOUND PROPAGATION IN GRANULAR MEDIA ON THE CONNECTION MACHINE

1993 ◽  
Vol 04 (06) ◽  
pp. 1103-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHAN MELIN
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Granular Media ◽  
Sound Propagation ◽  
Simulation Techniques ◽  
Connection Machine

While experiments studying the sound propagation in granular media can only measure the behaviour of a few particles, it is possible to study the whole system at once with a computer simulation. In this article I will shortly present the simulation techniques which I use and a few results.

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