AN ALGORITHMIC APPROACH TO PREFERENCE REPRESENTATION

Author(s):  
J. YÁÑEZ ◽  
J. MONTERO ◽  
D. GÓMEZ

In a previous paper, the authors proposed an alternative approach to classical dimension theory, based upon a general representation of strict preferences not being restricted to partial order sets. Without any relevant restriction, the proposed approach was conceived as a potential powerful tool for decision making problems where basic information has been modeled by means of valued binary preference relations. In fact, assuming that each decision maker is able to consistently manage intensity values for preferences is a strong assumption even when there are few alternatives being involved (if the number of alternatives is large, the same criticism applies to crisp preferences). Any representation tool, as the one proposed by the authors, will in principle play a key role in order to help decision makers to understand their preference structure. In this paper we introduce an alternative approach in order to avoid certain complexity issues of the initial proposal, allowing a close representation easier to be obtained in practice.

AI & Society ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Chiodo

AbstractWe continuously talk about autonomous technologies. But how can words qualifying technologies be the very same words chosen by Kant to define what is essentially human, i.e. being autonomous? The article focuses on a possible answer by reflecting upon both etymological and philosophical issues, as well as upon the case of autonomous vehicles. Most interestingly, on the one hand, we have the notion of (human) “autonomy”, meaning that there is a “law” that is “self-given”, and, on the other hand, we have the notion of (technological) “automation”, meaning that there is something “offhand” that is “self-given”. Yet, we are experiencing a kind of twofold shift: on the one hand, the shift from defining technologies in terms of automation to defining technologies in terms of autonomy and, on the other hand, the shift from defining humans in terms of autonomy to defining humans in terms of automation. From a philosophical perspective, the shift may mean that we are trying to escape precisely from what autonomy founds, i.e. individual responsibility of humans that, in the Western culture, have been defined for millennia as rational and moral decision-makers, even when their decisions have been the toughest. More precisely, the shift may mean that we are using technologies, and in particular emerging algorithmic technologies, as scapegoats that bear responsibility for us by making decisions for us. Moreover, if we consider the kind of emerging algorithmic technologies that increasingly surround us, starting from autonomous vehicles, then we may argue that we also seem to create a kind of technological divine that, by being always with us through its immanent omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence and inscrutability, can always be our technological scapegoat freeing us from the most unbearable burden of individual responsibility resulting from individual autonomy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES CHAPMAN ◽  
TARMO UUSTALU ◽  
NICCOLÒ VELTRI

The delay datatype was introduced by Capretta (Logical Methods in Computer Science, 1(2), article 1, 2005) as a means to deal with partial functions (as in computability theory) in Martin-Löf type theory. The delay datatype is a monad. It is often desirable to consider two delayed computations equal, if they terminate with equal values, whenever one of them terminates. The equivalence relation underlying this identification is called weak bisimilarity. In type theory, one commonly replaces quotients with setoids. In this approach, the delay datatype quotiented by weak bisimilarity is still a monad–a constructive alternative to the maybe monad. In this paper, we consider the alternative approach of Hofmann (Extensional Constructs in Intensional Type Theory, Springer, London, 1997) of extending type theory with inductive-like quotient types. In this setting, it is difficult to define the intended monad multiplication for the quotiented datatype. We give a solution where we postulate some principles, crucially proposition extensionality and the (semi-classical) axiom of countable choice. With the aid of these principles, we also prove that the quotiented delay datatype delivers free ω-complete pointed partial orders (ωcppos).Altenkirch et al. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 10203, Springer, Heidelberg, 534–549, 2017) demonstrated that, in homotopy type theory, a certain higher inductive–inductive type is the free ωcppo on a type X essentially by definition; this allowed them to obtain a monad of free ωcppos without recourse to a choice principle. We notice that, by a similar construction, a simpler ordinary higher inductive type gives the free countably complete join semilattice on the unit type 1. This type suffices for constructing a monad, which is isomorphic to the one of Altenkirch et al. We have fully formalized our results in the Agda dependently typed programming language.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-57
Author(s):  
Marek Menkiszak

In the face of a new serious crisis in Europe caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has taken an ambiguous position. On the one hand, it was spreading fake news and, on the other hand, it was providing Italy with symbolic support. Russia’s immediate goal was to persuade the European Union (EU) to reduce or lift sanctions. The new situation provides a new argument to those participants of the European debate who are in favour of normalisation and even reset of relations with Russia. Among them, the voice of France is particularly clear since its President Emanuel Macron has taken up the initiative to build the ‘architecture of trust and security’ with Russia. These proposals, which are now quite vague, are based on questionable  assumptions and deepen divisions in Europe and the crisis in transatlantic relations. By rising Moscow’s hopes for some form of (geo)political bargain, they in fact encourage Russia to continue its aggressive policy towards its European neighbours. An alternative approach based on several principles is needed in the debate on EU policy towards Russia: developing all five Mogherini’s points; maintaining sanctions against Russia until the reasons for their introduction cease to exist; symmetry of commitments and benefits related to limited cooperation with Russia; inviolability of key interests, security and sovereignty of EU and NATO member and partner states; and balancing the dialogue with the Russian authorities by supporting Russian civil society. Europe can survive without Russia but Russia cannot survive without Europe, which is why European policy needs consistency and strategic patience.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhdi PPs Universitas Negeri Semarang

Abstract. Local autonomy in the education sector has been implemented for more than ten years; however, the results have not been satisfactory yet and have even created various problems, including in Semarang City. The objective of this research is to obtain the implementation model of the educational policy of Semarang City in the local autonomy era. This research uses the research and development approach. The research results show that the appropriate implementation model of the educational policy of Semarang City in the local autonomy era is the one which applies the interactive and participative principles, management functions and good governance. The decision making and the accomplishment of the educational policy should be done through the interactions among the decision makers, the decision implementers and the decision users so that all parties can give inputs and evaluation. The implementation of the policy is accomplished by applying the management functions especially organizing, actuating and controlling as well as applying the principle of good governance, i.e. transparency, accountability, fairness and responsiveness.Abstrak. Otonomi daerah bidang pendidikan telah lebih sepuluh tahun dilaksanakan; namun hasilnya belum menggembirakan, bahkan memunculkan berbagai masalah baru, termasuk di kota Semarang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mendapatkan model implementasi kebijakan pendidikan kota Semarang pada era otonomi daerah. Pendekatan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian dan pengembangan. Hasil penelitian ini adalah:?é?á bahwa model implementasi kebijakan pendidikan kota Semarang pada era otonomi daerah yang sesuai adalah model implementasi kebijakan pendidikan yang menerapkan prinsip interaktif, partisipatif, fungsi manajemen dan good governance. Penetapan kebijakan pelaksana dilakukan dengan?é?á interaksi antara penentu kebijakan, pelaksana kebijakan dan pengguna kebijakan, sehingga para pihak dapat memberikan masukan dan evaluasi. Pelaksanaan kebijakan dilakukan dengan?é?á menerapkan fungsi manajemen khususnya organizing, actuating, controlling, dan menerapkan prinsip good goverenance yaitu transparansi, akuntabilitas, fairnes dan responsivitas.Key words: Interactive, participative, management, good goverenance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (Vol Esp. 2) ◽  
pp. 427-454
Author(s):  
Sílvia Maria Sartor ◽  
Marcos Reis Rosa ◽  
Juliana Tristão Pires ◽  
Claudio Augusto Oller Nascimento

Despite the importance of coastal areas to sustainable development, they are poorly known by the public or even by decision-makers. This undermines consistent action towards their protection. Existing data and information, published in very complex language, tend to be restricted to academic use. The Coastal Web Atlas as the one developed here is a tool that makes this information more accessible to managers, by preserving, integrating, comparing, and sharing data as smart maps. The spatial analysis based on multiple impact indicators facilitates the correlation of causes and effects. The Coastal Web Atlas is available to a broad audience and it could be a strong instrument for spatial planning and oversight. The authors propose to improve coastal area management by using colors on maps to decode scientific language to friendly language and to publish it on a geoportal. This technology promotes the use of collected data and enables collaborative work. A pilot experiment is being developed in the Santos Port Region, at the São Paulo state coast, Brazil: http://santoswebatlas.com.br/


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (71) ◽  
pp. 43-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Ejdus

Abstract Serbia is the only state in the Western Balkans that is not seeking NATO membership. In December 2007, Serbia declared military neutrality and in spite of its EU membership aspirations, developed very close relations with Moscow. The objective of this paper is threefold. First, I argue that in order to understand why Serbia declared military neutrality, one has to look both at the discursive terrain and domestic power struggles. The key narrative that was strategically used by mnemonic entrepreneurs, most importantly by the former Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, to legitimize military neutrality was the trauma of NATO intervention in 1999 and the ensuing secession of Kosovo. In the second part of the paper, I discuss the operational consequences of the military neutrality policy for Serbia's relations with NATO and Russia, as well as for military reform and EU accession. Finally, I spell out the challenges ahead in Serbia's neutrality policy and argue that its decision makers will increasingly be caught between pragmatic foreign policy requirements on the one hand and deeply entrenched traumatic memories on the other.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-105
Author(s):  
Frédéric Goulet

In this article, we analyse the mechanisms by which family farming established itself in Argentina over the 2004–2016 period as a legitimate solution to the food security challenge. We show that this process has played a role in the emergence of an alternative sociotechnical imaginary built as a counter-model to the one associated with industrial agriculture. We highlight the importance of the processes of demarcation and detachment at the heart of this shift, in the political, techno-scientific and agricultural spheres. The actors involved in the promotion of family farming associate this alternative approach to the development of the agricultural sector with the implementation of an alternative practice and organisation of science and technology. These shifts correspond to a narrative and mode of political action that put the emphasis on the production of a national future liberated from the mistakes and injustices of the past, in which science and technology play a central role. By highlighting the tensions at the heart of this dynamic, between the establishment of new boundaries and the challenging of existing ones, the article contributes to the analysis of the formation of alternative sociotechnical imaginaries, and in particular the underlying mechanisms of co-production between science and politics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Schiuma ◽  
A. Costantino ◽  
T. Bartolotti ◽  
M. Dattilo ◽  
V. Bini ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Fasting blood homocysteine is increased in PCOS women and is involved in several of its co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease and infertility. Corrective interventions based on the administration of supra-physiologic doses of folic acid work to a low extent. We aimed to test an alternative approach. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, parallel group, open label, controlled versus no treatment clinical study. PCOS women aged > 18, free from systemic diseases and from pharmacological treatments were randomized with a 2:1 ratio for treatment with activated micronutrients in support to the carbon cycle (Impryl, Parthenogen, Switzerland—n = 22) or no treatment (n = 10) and followed-up for 3 months. Fasting blood homocysteine, AMH, testosterone, SHBGs, and the resulting FTI were tested before and at the end of the follow-up. Results The mean baseline fasting blood homocysteine was above the normal limit of 12 μMol/L and inversely correlated with SHBG. AMH was also increased, whereas testosterone, SHBG, and FTI were within the normal limit. The treatment achieved a significant reduction of homocysteine, that did not change in the control group, independently of the starting value. The treatment also caused an increase of AMH and a decrease of SHBGs only in the subgroup with a normal homocysteine at baseline. Conclusions In PCOS ladies, blood homocysteine is increased and inversely correlated with the SHBGs. Physiologic amounts of activated micronutrients in support to the carbon cycle achieve a reduction virtually in all exposed patients. Whether this is of clinical benefit remains to be established.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
PETRA STAYNOVA

In this article, we calculate the Ellis semigroup of a certain class of constant-length substitutions. This generalizes a result of Haddad and Johnson [IP cluster points, idempotents, and recurrent sequences. Topology Proc.22 (1997) 213–226] from the binary case to substitutions over arbitrarily large finite alphabets. Moreover, we provide a class of counterexamples to one of the propositions in their paper, which is central to the proof of their main theorem. We give an alternative approach to their result, which centers on the properties of the Ellis semigroup. To do this, we also show a new way to construct an almost automorphic–isometric tower to the maximal equicontinuous factor of these systems, which gives a more particular approach than the one given by Dekking [The spectrum of dynamical systems arising from substitutions of constant length. Z. Wahrscheinlichkeitstheor. Verw. Geb.41(3) (1977/78) 221–239].


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Saltman

AbstractThis perspective reviews key institutional and organizational patterns in Swedish health care over the last 30 years, probing the roots of several complicated policy questions that concern present-day Swedish decision-makers. It explores in particular the ongoing structural tension between stability, on the one hand, and the necessary levels of innovation and dynamism demanded by the current period of major clinical, technological, economic, social and supranational (EU) change. Where useful, the article compares Swedish developments with those in the other three European Nordic countries as well as other northern European health systems. Sweden’s health sector evolution can provide valuable insight for other countries into the complexity involved in re-thinking tradeoffs between policies that emphasize stability as against those that encourage innovation in health sector governance and provision.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document