A Stage-Theoretical Account of Diachronic Identity

Metaphysica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-272
Author(s):  
H. E. Baber
Keyword(s):  
Reference Class ◽  
Ordinary Object ◽  
Ordinary Objects ◽  
Theoretical Account ◽  
Reference Classes

Abstract Diachronic identity is understood as an identity holding between something existing at one time and something existing at another time. On the stage view, however, ordinary objects are instantaneous stages that do not exist at other times so diachronic identity is, at best, problematic. On account proposed here a name does not, as Sider and others suggest, denote a stage concurrent with its utterance. Rather, at any time, t, a name of an ordinary object designates a stage-at-t as its primary referent and refers indeterminately over it and all and only those stages counterpart-related to it—its reference class at t. At any time, t, a at t1 is the same object as b at t2 iff for every stage x counterpart-related to a’s stage-at t and every stage y counterpart-related to b’s stage-at-t, x=y. Diachronic identity statements, therefore, assert strict identities—between concurrent stages. Ordinarily names select the same reference classes at every time so, in ordinary cases, identity statements are not ‘occasional’. In fission cases names select different reference classes at different times. Where a becomes b and c, at any pre-fission time ‘a’, ‘b’, and ‘c’ have same the primary referent and so select the same reference class—therefore, before fission b is the same object as c. At any post-fission time ‘b’ and ‘c’ select different reference classes—so after fission b is not the same object as c. Identity is not occasional but, in extraordinary cases, identity statements are—because reference is.

Which reference class is evoked?

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Craig R. M. McKenzie ◽  
Jack B. Soll
Keyword(s):  
Search Space ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
Base Rates ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
Choose People

AbstractAny instance (i.e., event, behavior, trait) belongs to infinitely many reference classes, hence there are infinitely many base rates from which to choose. People clearly do not entertain all possible reference classes, however, so something must be limiting the search space. We suggest some possible mechanisms that determine which reference class is evoked for the purpose of judgment and decision.

scholarly journals REFERENCE CLASSES AND MULTIPLE INHERITANCES

1995 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
PEI WANG
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Class A ◽  
Reasoning System ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Reference Class Problem ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
Better Than

The reference class problem in probability theory and the multiple inheritances (extensions) problem in non-monotonic logics are special cases of conflicting beliefs. One popular solution accepted in the two domains is the specificity principle. By analyzing an example, several factors beyond specificity are found to be relevant to the priority of a reference class. A new approach, Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System (NARS), is discussed, where these factors are all taken into account. It is argued that the solution provided by NARS is better than the solutions provided by probability theory and non-monotonic logics.

scholarly journals Gündelik Nesnenin Sanatsal Dönüşümü: Sıradan Nesnelerin Sanat Eserine Dönüşüm Süreci Üzerine Sosyolojik Bir Değerlendirme / Artistic Transformation of Casual Objects: A Sociological Evaluation on the Process of Transformation of Ordinary Objects into Art

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 524
Author(s):  
Hasan Sankır
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Ordinary Object ◽  
Ordinary Objects ◽  
Cultural Character ◽  
Art Objects ◽  
The Social

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>All products in the art field have a cultural character and reflect the characteristics of the social space in which they are situated. Objects have no meaning in their own rights and all objects, including art objects, acquire its meaning through social construction. In this respect, the meaning of artwork is symbolic and conceptual. The purpose of this work is to reveal how and by what conditions ordinary objects are transformed into artworks by artists. It is aimed to determine which social mechanisms take place in the process of artistic transformation of objects and what the role of social space and artists is in the construction and operation of these mechanisms. For this purpose, the study is composed of two parts. In the first part, how social context of an artwork is being constructed and according to this context how an object and space acquire artistic meaning have been set forth through semiotics approach. In the second part, an approach to the artistic transformation of an ordinary object through the role of artist and construction of social context with the examples selected from the art history have been put forward. In this section, the "bed" was chosen as the ordinary object and a discussion was made about the transformation process of the bed into a work of art through the work of Tracy Emin's "My Bed". As a result of the study, it was understood that ordinary objects have their own unique cultural spaces, and that they have an active role in the social context in which these objects have their meaning. Through the action of the artist towards an artistic goal, it has been specified that at the end of processes such as the removal of an ordinary object from the cultural space and its isolation from its functions, it is possible to change its social context and corresponding meaning. After this process, it has become possible to evaluate the object as an art work with the expansion of its meaning by turning it into an indicator.</p><p><strong>Öz</strong></p><p>Sanat alanındaki tüm üretimler kültürel bir nitelik taşır ve içerisinde yer aldığı sosyal alanın karakteristiklerini yansıtırlar. Nesnelerin kendi başına anlamları yoktur ve sanat nesneleri de dahil her türlü nesne anlamını toplumsal inşa süreciyle kazanır. Bu bakımdan sanat eserinin anlamı sembolik ve kavramsaldır. Bu çalışmanın amacı sıradan nesnelerin sanatçılar tarafından sanat eserine nasıl ve hangi koşullarda dönüştürüldüğünün ortaya konmasıdır. Nesnelerin sanatsal dönüşümü sürecinde hangi sosyal mekanizmaların yer aldığı ve bu mekanizmaların inşası ve işleyişinde sosyal mekânın ve sanatçının rolünün ne olduğunun belirlenmesine yöneliktir. Bu amaçla çalışma iki kısma ayrılmıştır. Birinci kısımda sanat alanında bir nesnenin sosyal bağlamının nasıl inşa edildiği ve bu bağlama göre nesnenin ve mekânın nasıl sanatsal bir anlam kazandığı göstergebilim yaklaşımı üzerinden ortaya konulmuştur. İkinci kısımda ise sanat tarihinden seçilen örneklerle sosyal bağlamın inşası ve sanatçının rolü üzerinden sıradan bir nesnenin sanatsal dönüşümüne yönelik bir yaklaşım ortaya konulmuştur. Bu kısımda sıradan nesne olarak “yatak” seçilmiş ve Tracy Emin’ in “My Bed” (benim yatağım) isimli çalışması üzerinden yatağın sanat eserine dönüşüm sürecine yönelik bir tartışma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda sıradan nesnelerin kendilerine özgü kültürel mekânlarının olduğu ve bu mekânların nesnelere yönelik anlamın ortaya çıkmasını sağlayan sosyal bağlamın inşasında etkin bir role sahip olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Sanatsal bir hedefe yönelmiş olan sanatçının eylemselliği aracılığıyla sıradan bir nesnenin kültürel mekânı dışına çıkartılması ve işlevlerinden soyutlanması gibi süreçler sonucunda sosyal bağlamının ve buna bağlı olarak anlamının değiştirilmesinin mümkün olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu süreç sonrasında nesnenin göstergeye dönüşerek anlamının genişlemesiyle birlikte sanat yapıtı olarak değerlendirilmesinin imkanlı hale geldiği görülmüştür.</p>

scholarly journals Personalizing Evidence for Shoulder Fracture Patients Using an Extended Instrumental Variable Causal Forest Algorithm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Brooks ◽  
Cole G. Chapman ◽  
Sarah Floyd ◽  
Brian K. Chen ◽  
Charles A. Thigpen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Early Surgery ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
Shoulder Fracture ◽  
Population Classification ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
Surgery Rates

Objective: To assess the ability of an extended Instrumental Variable Causal Forest Algorithm (IV-CFA) to provide personalized evidence of early surgery effects on benefits and detriments for elderly shoulder fracture patients. Data Sources/Study Setting: Population of 72,751 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) in 2011 who survived a 60-day treatment window after an index PHF and were continuously Medicare fee-for-service eligible over the period 12 months prior to index to the minimum of 12 months after index or death. Study Design: IV-CFA estimated early surgery effects on both beneficial and detrimental outcomes for each patient in the study population. Classification and regression trees (CART) were applied to these estimates to create patient reference classes. Two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimators were applied to patients in each reference class to scrutinize the estimates relative to the known 2SLS properties. Principal Findings: This approach uncovered distinct reference classes of elderly PHF patients with respect to early surgery effects on benefit and detriment. Older, frailer patients with more comorbidities, and lower utilizers of healthcare were less likely to gain benefit and more likely to have detriment from early surgery. Reference classes were characterized by the appropriateness of early surgery rates with respect to benefit and detriment. Conclusions: Extended IV-CFA provides an illuminating method to uncover reference classes of patients based on treatment effects using observational data with a strong instrumental variable. This study isolated reference classes of new PHF patients in which changes in early surgery rates would improve patient outcomes. The inability to measure fracture complexity in Medicare claims means providers will need to discuss the appropriateness of these estimates to patients within a reference class in context of this missing information.

scholarly journals Personalizing Evidence for Shoulder Fracture Patients Using an Extended Instrumental Variable Causal Forest Algorithm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Brooks ◽  
Cole G. Chapman ◽  
Sarah Floyd ◽  
Brian K. Chen ◽  
Charles A. Thigpen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Early Surgery ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
Shoulder Fracture ◽  
Population Classification ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
Surgery Rates

Objective: To assess the ability of an extended Instrumental Variable Causal Forest Algorithm (IV-CFA) to provide personalized evidence of early surgery effects on benefits and detriments for elderly shoulder fracture patients. Data Sources/Study Setting: Population of 72,751 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) in 2011 who survived a 60-day treatment window after an index PHF and were continuously Medicare fee-for-service eligible over the period 12 months prior to index to the minimum of 12 months after index or death. Study Design: IV-CFA estimated early surgery effects on both beneficial and detrimental outcomes for each patient in the study population. Classification and regression trees (CART) were applied to these estimates to create patient reference classes. Two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimators were applied to patients in each reference class to scrutinize the estimates relative to the known 2SLS properties. Principal Findings: This approach uncovered distinct reference classes of elderly PHF patients with respect to early surgery effects on benefit and detriment. Older, frailer patients with more comorbidities, and lower utilizers of healthcare were less likely to gain benefit and more likely to have detriment from early surgery. Reference classes were characterized by the appropriateness of early surgery rates with respect to benefit and detriment. Conclusions: Extended IV-CFA provides an illuminating method to uncover reference classes of patients based on treatment effects using observational data with a strong instrumental variable. This study isolated reference classes of new PHF patients in which changes in early surgery rates would improve patient outcomes. The inability to measure fracture complexity in Medicare claims means providers will need to discuss the appropriateness of these estimates to patients within a reference class in context of this missing information.

Improving Understanding of Diagnostic Test Outcomes

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaina N. Talboy ◽  
Sandra L. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Congruent Condition ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
Medical Test ◽  
Diagnostic Values ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Test Outcomes

Background. Understanding diagnostic test outcomes requires determining the positive predictive value (PPV) of the test, which most laypeople and medical professionals struggle to do. Despite advances found with frequency formats and visual aids, less than 40% of people can typically identify this value. This study tests the impact of using congruent reference classes in problem-question pairings, evaluates the role of numeracy, and assesses how diagnostic value estimates affect the reported likelihood to use the test. Method. A 3 × 2, Pairing (congruent test-focus, congruent condition-focus, incongruent) × Response Format (frequency, percentage) mixed design experiment was conducted, in which participants answered diagnostic questions about 7 medical problems presented in a format focusing either on the reference class of those who test positive or those who have the condition. Answer accuracy, numeracy, and ratings of likelihood to use estimates were assessed. Results. Focusing on the congruent test reference class allowed 87% of participants to consistently identify the PPV, and focusing on the congruent condition reference class led 63% of participants to consistently identify the sensitivity (SEN). Aligning reference classes was especially beneficial for those with lower numeracy, increasing accuracy on problems from 21% for incongruent pairings to 66% for congruent pairings. Ratings of likelihood to use the test were closely tied to participants’ estimates of diagnostic values, regardless of the accuracy of those estimates. Conclusions. Although often overlooked, a straightforward mapping of reference classes from the relevant diagnostic information to the question of interest reduces confusion and substantially increases accuracy in estimates of diagnostic values. These findings can be used to strengthen training in the assessment of uncertainties associated with medical test results.

ORDINARY OBJECTS IN CHRISTIAN HEALING SANCTUARIES

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 625-654
Author(s):  
B蠴rice Caseau
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Ordinary Object ◽  
Ordinary Objects ◽  
Everyday Lives ◽  
The Everyday

The evidence from miracle stories and from archaeology is used in this paper to document the appearance and contents of the healing shrines of Late Antiquity; particularly the prosaic objects of everyday life that would have been present at a shrine alongside liturgical and devotional objects. It explores the evidence relating to the everyday lives of those staying at the shrine, and shows how even the most ordinary object could be sanctified by its presence in a healing sanctuary.

scholarly journals More Accurate Learning of k-DNF Reference Classes

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 4385-4393
Author(s):  
Brendan Juba ◽  
Hengxuan Li
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Data Distribution ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Query Point ◽  
Reference Class ◽  
Reference Classes ◽  
Suitable Reference ◽  
The Given ◽  
New Algorithms

In machine learning, predictors trained on a given data distribution are usually guaranteed to perform well for further examples from the same distribution on average. This often may involve disregarding or diminishing the predictive power on atypical examples; or, in more extreme cases, a data distribution may be composed of a mixture of individually “atypical” heterogeneous populations, and the kind of simple predictors we can train may find it difficult to fit all of these populations simultaneously. In such cases, we may wish to make predictions for an atypical point by selecting a suitable reference class for that point: a subset of the data that is “more similar” to the given query point in an appropriate sense. Closely related tasks also arise in applications such as diagnosis or explaining the output of classifiers. We present new algorithms for computing k-DNF reference classes and establish much stronger approximation guarantees for their error rates.

The Facticity of Things – Reframing Slotawa's Practice with Meillassoux and Harman

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-79
Author(s):  
Robert Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Ordinary Objects ◽  
Speculative Realism ◽  
The World ◽  
The Given

Robert Jackson examines the work of the German artist Florian Slotawa. Beginning with his first works, “Hotelarbeiten”, Slotawa recomposes and reconfigures the order of ordinary objects – in this case, the furniture of hotel rooms. In reconstructing these rooms in another order without altering these objects in any way, photographing them, and then subsequently restoring them to their previous configuration, the artist reveals the ordinary function of the objects and by withdrawing from their function shows their material and factual character. To elucidate the specificity of Slotawa’s intervention, Jackson critiques Heidegger’s conception of facticity in its exclusive account of Dasein and its being-in-the world, in contrast to the factuality of “things-within-the world.” Drawing on Harman’s extension of finitude beyond Dasein to all things, he encourages us to see Slotawa as engaged in “facticity of things” that is characterized by dispossession, lack of reason, and radical contingency. As Jackson argues, Slotawa is trying to find a way to dwell in a world that has no room or possibility for the given coordinates of dwelling; a world that is a fact without reason. In concluding he explores a reading of Slotawa that explores the intersecting yet radically different approaches to thinking about a speculative realism in the work of Harman and Meillassoux, and their differing attitudes to the finite and the infinite, facticity and factiality, contingency and necessity, without presuming to assume that either of these accounts cover the speculative facticity of things revealed in Slotawa’s work.

The Problems of Ignorance and Uncertainty

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Decision Makers ◽  
Lower Tier ◽  
Theoretical Account ◽  
Hybrid Approaches ◽  
Tier System ◽  
Special Case

Chapter 9 turns to further epistemic barriers for decision makers: the problems of (nonmoral) ignorance and (nonmoral) uncertainty. The concepts of “ignorance” and “uncertainty” are elucidated, the problem of uncertainty is defined, and it is argued that the problem of ignorance should be treated as a special case of the problem of uncertainty. The three salient attempts to solve the problem are the Pragmatic, Austere, and Hybrid approaches. Combined solutions to the problem of error and the problem of uncertainty are explored, and it is argued that the only feasible approaches marry the Austere Response to the problem of error with the Hybrid Response to the problem of uncertainty in a two-tier system. The top-tier code provides the correct theoretical account of right and wrong, while the lower-tier rules provide associated decision-guides. Consistency requires that different normative terms be used by the top-tier rules and by the lower-tier rules.

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