PC Problems

This chapter provides grounds for thinking that PC is insufficient even as a theory of non-inferential justification. Two primary problems are raised for PC. First, PC needs an account of epistemic defeat. PC includes a “no-defeater” condition. However, it is shown that once one tries to get clear on the nature of defeat and how defeaters work within the framework of PC, it becomes apparent that one needs to appeal to something more than just the comparative strength of various seemings. Second, it is argued that PC falls prey to the problem of reflective awareness. If one reflects on one’s seemings, one’s justification deriving solely from them is destroyed. So, it seems that satisfying some condition other than PC is required for reflective agents to have stable non-inferential justification. It is also shown, however, that an unexpected consequence of the problem of reflective awareness is that PC is not really subject to bootstrapping problems.

Admissible Poisson bialgebras

An admissible Poisson algebra (or briefly, an adm-Poisson algebra) gives an equivalent presentation with only one operation for a Poisson algebra. We establish a bialgebra theory for adm-Poisson algebras independently and systematically, including but beyond the corresponding results on Poisson bialgebras given in [27]. Explicitly, we introduce the notion of adm-Poisson bialgebras which are equivalent to Manin triples of adm-Poisson algebras as well as Poisson bialgebras. The direct correspondence between adm-Poisson bialgebras with one comultiplication and Poisson bialgebras with one cocommutative and one anti-cocommutative comultiplications generalizes and illustrates the polarization–depolarization process in the context of bialgebras. The study of a special class of adm-Poisson bialgebras which include the known coboundary Poisson bialgebras in [27] as a proper subclass in general, illustrating an advantage in terms of the presentation with one operation, leads to the introduction of adm-Poisson Yang–Baxter equation in an adm-Poisson algebra. It is an unexpected consequence that both the adm-Poisson Yang–Baxter equation and the associative Yang–Baxter equation have the same form and thus it motivates and simplifies the involved study from the study of the associative Yang–Baxter equation, which is another advantage in terms of the presentation with one operation. A skew-symmetric solution of adm-Poisson Yang–Baxter equation gives an adm-Poisson bialgebra. Finally, the notions of an [Formula: see text]-operator of an adm-Poisson algebra and a pre-adm-Poisson algebra are introduced to construct skew-symmetric solutions of adm-Poisson Yang–Baxter equation and hence adm-Poisson bialgebras. Note that a pre-adm-Poisson algebra gives an equivalent presentation for a pre-Poisson algebra introduced by Aguiar.

The element of surprise in Peirce’s double consciousness paradigm

This account will demonstrate that the element of surprise is a fundamental device in establishing double consciousness regimes; it further shows how such dialogic paradigms foster abductive inferences by filtering out irrelevant percepts/antecedents. The account sets up Peirce’s Pheme to be the primary device which shocks interpreters’ sensibilities (CP 8.266, 1903) – starting them on a course to question conflicting principles between ego and non-ego (CP 5.53, 1903: CP 8.266). The natural disposition of surprise to instantaneously deliver insight into which antecedents are relevant to vital, anomalous consequences demonstrates its indispensability in generating logical and semiotic advances. For Peirce, vividness, as an element of surprise in Secondness, is largely responsible for the nuts and bolts of how surprise facilitates logic; its means to activate searches for plausible antecedents makes vividness the prime candidate. The success of vividness at turning the mind of interpreters to new ways of explaining the consequence largely hinges upon the external properties of the unexpected consequence – not merely objects’ instantaneity, but their striking characteristics, as well. Even though vividness is external (MS 645, 1909; cf. Atkins, Richard Kenneth. 2018. Charles S. Peirce’s phenomenology: Analysis and consciousness. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 198), it produces internal responses, in the form of a war against feelings (CP 8.330, 1904). In this way, double consciousness paradigms are initiated, which, in turn, call for hypothesis generation.

Acquired cryptorchidism: an unexpected consequence of inguinoscrotal lymphatic malformation treated with Eppikajutsuto

Lymphatic malformation (LM) that causes inguinoscrotal swelling is extremely rare. Surgery, sclerotherapy and pharmacotherapy have been reported as possible treatment options for LM. Recently, Eppikajutsuto (TJ-28), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine has emerged as therapeutic option for LM. We report the case of a 2-year-old boy who presented with a left inguinoscrotal swelling, which was diagnosed as retroperitoneal LM extending into the left scrotum. The surgical approach was less favourable, given the risk of damaging the testicular vasculature or the spermatic cord. Therefore, the patient received medical treatment with TJ-28. As a result, a volume reduction of 83% was obtained, as well as the unexpected consequence of the left testicle retracting into the inguinal area. Laparoscopic exploration was performed and a small bulge on the internal inguinal ring was detected. The patient’s acquired cryptorchidism was subsequently treated by orchidopexy.

Comparing Deep Reinforcement Learning Algorithms’ Ability to Safely Navigate Challenging Waters

Reinforcement Learning (RL) controllers have proved to effectively tackle the dual objectives of path following and collision avoidance. However, finding which RL algorithm setup optimally trades off these two tasks is not necessarily easy. This work proposes a methodology to explore this that leverages analyzing the performance and task-specific behavioral characteristics for a range of RL algorithms applied to path-following and collision-avoidance for underactuated surface vehicles in environments of increasing complexity. Compared to the introduced RL algorithms, the results show that the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm exhibits superior robustness to changes in the environment complexity, the reward function, and when generalized to environments with a considerable domain gap from the training environment. Whereas the proposed reward function significantly improves the competing algorithms’ ability to solve the training environment, an unexpected consequence of the dimensionality reduction in the sensor suite, combined with the domain gap, is identified as the source of their impaired generalization performance.

Anti-flexible bialgebras

We establish a bialgebra theory for anti-flexible algebras in this paper. We introduce the notion of an anti-flexible bialgebra which is equivalent to a Manin triple of anti-flexible algebras. The study of a special case of anti-flexible bialgebras leads to the introduction of anti-flexible Yang–Baxter equation in an anti-flexible algebra which is an analogue of the classical Yang–Baxter equation in a Lie algebra or the associative Yang–Baxter equation in an associative algebra. It is unexpected consequence that both the anti-flexible Yang–Baxter equation and the associative Yang–Baxter equation have the same form. A skew-symmetric solution of anti-flexible Yang–Baxter equation gives an anti-flexible bialgebra. Finally the notions of an [Formula: see text]-operator of an anti-flexible algebra and a pre-anti-flexible algebra are introduced to construct skew-symmetric solutions of anti-flexible Yang–Baxter equation.

Right-wing populism and the mainstreaming of protests: The case of Colombia

Unlike other Latin American countries, Colombia has consistently been governed by centre-right or right-wing political parties. The absence of political space for the Left in this country allowed governments to portray protests as subversive and criminal. However, starting in 2008, right-wing politicians have embraced, supported and used the protest as a tactic; undertaking, calling for, and giving support to various protest movements across the country. This has had an unexpected consequence: right-wing parties, government institutions, and even some sectors within the security and armed forces now see protests as valid and normal. Drawing on a brief historical analysis of protest movements in Colombia since 1948, and particularly after 2002, this article argues that to understand the recent normalization of this form of political expression we should look at changes in the dynamics of competition within the Right.

Why Hypothesis Testers Should Spend Less Time Testing Hypotheses

For almost half a century, Paul Meehl educated psychologists about how the mindless use of null-hypothesis significance tests made research on theories in the social sciences basically uninterpretable. In response to the replication crisis, reforms in psychology have focused on formalizing procedures for testing hypotheses. These reforms were necessary and influential. However, as an unexpected consequence, psychological scientists have begun to realize that they may not be ready to test hypotheses. Forcing researchers to prematurely test hypotheses before they have established a sound “derivation chain” between test and theory is counterproductive. Instead, various nonconfirmatory research activities should be used to obtain the inputs necessary to make hypothesis tests informative. Before testing hypotheses, researchers should spend more time forming concepts, developing valid measures, establishing the causal relationships between concepts and the functional form of those relationships, and identifying boundary conditions and auxiliary assumptions. Providing these inputs should be recognized and incentivized as a crucial goal in itself. In this article, we discuss how shifting the focus to nonconfirmatory research can tie together many loose ends of psychology’s reform movement and help us to develop strong, testable theories, as Paul Meehl urged.