Probabilistic Representations of Belief

Philosophy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Formal Epistemology ◽  
Maximal Strength ◽  
Representations Of Belief ◽  
Over Time

Formal epistemology is epistemology that uses mathematical tools. Foremost among them is probability theory. We can represent the strength of a belief by assigning it a number between zero and one, with one representing belief with maximal strength, and zero with minimal strength. Using these, and other, formal tools, we can investigate a range of epistemological questions, such as: What justifies beliefs? How should evidence inform belief? How should we update our beliefs over time?

scholarly journals Corticomuscular Coherence and Motor Control Adaptations after Isometric Maximal Strength Training

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
Dimitri Elie ◽  
Franck Barbier ◽  
Ghassan Ido ◽  
Sylvain Cremoux
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Strength Training ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Maximal Strength ◽  
Antagonist Muscle ◽  
Corticomuscular Coherence ◽  
Muscle Activations ◽  
Stability And Accuracy ◽  
Over Time

Strength training (ST) induces corticomuscular adaptations leading to enhanced strength. ST alters the agonist and antagonist muscle activations, which changes the motor control, i.e., force production stability and accuracy. This study evaluated the alteration of corticomuscular communication and motor control through the quantification of corticomuscular coherence (CMC) and absolute (AE) and variable error (VE) of the force production throughout a 3 week Maximal Strength Training (MST) intervention specifically designed to strengthen ankle plantarflexion (PF). Evaluation sessions with electroencephalography, electromyography, and torque recordings were conducted pre-training, 1 week after the training initiation, then post-training. Training effect was evaluated over the maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), the submaximal torque production, AE and VE, muscle activation, and CMC changes during submaximal contractions at 20% of the initial and daily MVIC. MVIC increased significantly throughout the training completion. For submaximal contractions, agonist muscle activation decreased over time only for the initial torque level while antagonist muscle activation, AE, and VE decreased over time for each torque level. CMC remained unaltered by the MST. Our results revealed that neurophysiological adaptations are noticeable as soon as 1 week post-training. However, CMC remained unaltered by MST, suggesting that central motor adaptations may take longer to be translated into CMC alteration.

Formal Epistemology

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Douven ◽  
Jonah N. Schupbach
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Computer Simulations ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Social Epistemology ◽  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Theory Of Knowledge ◽  
Formal Epistemology ◽  
The Subject

Formal epistemology is a young but vibrant field of research in analytic philosophy characterized by both its matter and its method. The subject matter of this field is epistemology, the theory of knowledge. The method for investigating the subject matter of epistemology involves the use of formal, logicomathematical devices. This chapter highlights the major achievements of formal epistemology so far and gives a sense of what can be accomplished by addressing problems from mainstream epistemology with the use of logic, probability theory, computer simulations, and other formal tools. The historical roots of the field are also described, and there is a discussion of new questions that have been raised by formal epistemology that should also be of interest to mainstream epistemologists. We also pay attention to the currently emerging subfield of formal social epistemology.

scholarly journals Effect of Bang® Pre-Workout Master Blaster® combined with four weeks of resistance training on lean body mass, maximal strength, mircoRNA expression, and serum IGF-1 in men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil A. Schwarz ◽  
Sarah K. McKinley-Barnard ◽  
Zachary J. Blahnik
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Resistance Exercise ◽  
Lean Body Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Maximal Strength ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Total Body Mass ◽  
Double Blind Placebo ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The aim of the current study was to determine if 4 weeks of consumption of Bang® Pre-Workout Master Blaster® (BMB; Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc., Weston, FL) combined with resistance training resulted in greater increases in muscle mass and maximal strength compared with resistance training combined with placebo (PLA). Additionally, we aimed to determine if BMB ingestion combined with resistance training preferentially altered resting skeletal muscle expression of microRNAs (miRs) or resting serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Methods Sixteen recreationally-active men completed the study. The study employed a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design. Participants completed two testing sessions separated by 4 weeks of resistance exercise combined with daily supplementation of BMB or PLA. At each testing session, hemodynamics, body composition, and muscle and blood samples were obtained followed by strength assessments of the lower- and upper-body via measurement of squat and bench press one-repetition maximum (1-RM), respectively. A separate general linear model was utilized for analysis of each variable to determine the effect of each supplement (between-factor) over time (within-factor) using an a priori probability level of ≤0.05. Results No significant effects were observed for dietary intake, hemodynamics, fat mass, body fat percentage, or serum IGF-1. A greater increase in total body mass (3.19 kg, 95% CI, 1.98 kg, 4.40 kg vs. 0.44 kg, 95% CI, − 0.50 kg, 1.39 kg) and lean body mass (3.15 kg, 95% CI, 1.80 kg, 4.49 kg vs. 0.89 kg, 95% CI, − 0.14 kg, 1.93 kg) was observed for the BMB group compared with PLA (p <  0.01). A significant increase over time was observed for miR-23a (p = 0.02) and miR-23b (p = 0.05) expression. A greater increase in squat 1-RM was observed for the BMB group (23.86 kg, 95% CI, 16.75 kg, 30.97 kg) compared with the PLA group (14.20 kg, 95% CI, 7.04 kg, 21.37 kg, p = 0.04). Conclusions BMB supplementation combined with resistance exercise training for 4 weeks resulted in superior adaptations in maximal strength and LBM compared with resistance training with a placebo. No adverse resting hemodynamic or clinical blood safety markers were observed as a result of BMB supplementation. The superior outcomes associated with BMB supplementation could not be explained by resting serum IGF-1 or the skeletal muscle miRs measured, although resting miR-23a and miR-23b expression both increased as a result of resistance training.

Probability and the Philosophy of Religion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bartha
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Philosophy Of Religion ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Formal Epistemology ◽  
Reverse Direction ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Pascal’S Wager ◽  
History Of ◽  
Work First

There is a long history of fruitful connections between work in probability theory and the philosophy of religion. This chapter explores these connections through discussion of two classic arguments: the fine-tuning argument and Pascal’s Wager. The formulation and assessment of both arguments relies upon increasingly sophisticated applications of the probability calculus and other formal tools. Two themes emerge from a survey of recent work. First, diverse forms of ‘philosophical technology’ are invaluable in constructing precise models, clarifying objections and identifying new approaches to venerable arguments concerning the existence of God and the rationality of religious belief. Second, benefits flow in the reverse direction as well: the philosophy of religion is fertile ground for testing ideas in formal epistemology and decision theory.

scholarly journals 2016 HES PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: STATISTICAL INFERENCE IN ECONOMICS, 1920–1965: CHANGES IN MEANING AND PRACTICE

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Biddle
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Statistical Inference ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
The Us ◽  
Cowles Commission ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

I review changes over time in the meaning that economists in the US attributed to the phrase “statistical inference,” as well as changes in how inference was conducted. Prior to WWII, leading statistical economists rejected probability theory as a source of measures and procedures to be used in statistical inference. Trygve Haavelmo and the early Cowles Commission econometricians developed an approach to statistical inference based on probability theory, but the arguments they offered in defense of this approach were not always responsive to the concerns of earlier empirical economists that the data available to economists did not satisfy the assumptions required for such an approach. Despite this, after a period of about twenty-five years, a consensus developed that methods of inference derived from probability theory were an almost essential part of empirical research in economics. I conclude with some speculation on possible reasons for this transformation in thinking about statistical inference.

PARTIAL PROBABILITY: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

2000 ◽  
Vol 08 (03) ◽  
pp. 331-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANS VOORBRAAK
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Probability Theory ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Probabilistic Information ◽  
Evidence Combination ◽  
Partial Probability ◽  
Brief Treatments ◽  
Belief States ◽  
Representations Of Belief

In this paper, we describe an approach to handling partially specified probabilistic information. We propose a formalism, called Partial Probability Theory (PPT), which allows very general representations of belief states, and we give brief treatments of problems, like belief change, evidence combination, and decision making in the context of PPT. We argue that the generality of PPT provide new insights in all the mentioned problem areas. More detailed treatments of these issues can be found in several papers referred to in the text.

Social transmission bias and the cultural evolution of folk-economic beliefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hirshleifer ◽  
Siew Hong Teoh
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Social Transmission ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Economic Attitudes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Economic Beliefs ◽  
Over Time

AbstractEvolved dispositions influence, but do not determine, how people think about economic problems. The evolutionary cognitive approach offers important insights but underweights the social transmission of ideas as a level of explanation. The need for asocialexplanation for the evolution of economic attitudes is evidenced, for example, by immense variations in folk-economic beliefs over time and across individuals.

Articulatory Generalization in Two Word-Medial, Ambisyllabic Contexts

1988 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia I. Wolfe ◽  
Suzanne D. Blocker ◽  
Norma J. Prater
Keyword(s):  
Common View ◽  
Perceptual Salience ◽  
The Common ◽  
Unitary Concept ◽  
Over Time

Articulatory generalization of velar cognates /k/, /g/ in two phonologically disordered children was studied over time as a function of sequential word-morpheme position training. Although patterns of contextual acquisition differed, correct responses to the word-medial, inflected context (e.g., "picking," "hugging") occurred earlier and exceeded those to the word-medial, noninflected context (e.g., "bacon," "wagon"). This finding indicates that the common view of the word-medial position as a unitary concept is an oversimplification. Possible explanations for superior generalization to the word-medial, inflected position are discussed in terms of coarticulation, perceptual salience, and the representational integrity of the word.

Treatment Fidelity Procedures for an Aphasia Intervention Within a Randomized Controlled Trial: Design, Feasibility, and Results

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1S) ◽  
pp. 412-424
Author(s):  
Elissa L. Conlon ◽  
Emily J. Braun ◽  
Edna M. Babbitt ◽  
Leora R. Cherney
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Treatment Fidelity ◽  
Protocol Adherence ◽  
Study Condition ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Aphasia Therapy ◽  
Percent Accuracy ◽  
Over Time

Purpose This study reports on the treatment fidelity procedures implemented during a 5-year randomized controlled trial comparing intensive and distributed comprehensive aphasia therapy. Specifically, the results of 1 treatment, verb network strengthening treatment (VNeST), are examined. Method Eight participants were recruited for each of 7 consecutive cohorts for a total of 56 participants. Participants completed 60 hr of aphasia therapy, including 15 hr of VNeST. Two experienced speech-language pathologists delivered the treatment. To promote treatment fidelity, the study team developed a detailed manual of procedures and fidelity checklists, completed role plays to standardize treatment administration, and video-recorded all treatment sessions for review. To assess protocol adherence during treatment delivery, trained research assistants not involved in the treatment reviewed video recordings of a subset of randomly selected VNeST treatment sessions and completed the fidelity checklists. This process was completed for 32 participants representing 2 early cohorts and 2 later cohorts, which allowed for measurement of protocol adherence over time. Percent accuracy of protocol adherence was calculated across clinicians, cohorts, and study condition (intensive vs. distributed therapy). Results The fidelity procedures were sufficient to promote and verify a high level of adherence to the treatment protocol across clinicians, cohorts, and study condition. Conclusion Treatment fidelity strategies and monitoring are feasible when incorporated into the study design. Treatment fidelity monitoring should be completed at regular intervals during the course of a study to ensure that high levels of protocol adherence are maintained over time and across conditions.

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