Jan Modersitzki
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780198528418
- eISBN:
- 9780191713583
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198528418.003.0002
- Subject:
- Mathematics, Applied Mathematics
This chapter presents a typical application for image registration. The particular goal of the Human Neuro-Scanning Project is a three-dimensional reconstruction down to particular neurons of a whole ...
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This chapter presents a typical application for image registration. The particular goal of the Human Neuro-Scanning Project is a three-dimensional reconstruction down to particular neurons of a whole human brain based on microscopic modalities. The workflow that leads to stained histological slides and their digitalization is explained. The process is illustrated by various figures showing the sectioning process, the paraffin embedded brain, a sectioned slide, and the digitalization. It is shown that these processes lead to unwanted highly non-linear distortion of the sections that inhibits a direct reconstruction.Less
This chapter presents a typical application for image registration. The particular goal of the Human Neuro-Scanning Project is a three-dimensional reconstruction down to particular neurons of a whole human brain based on microscopic modalities. The workflow that leads to stained histological slides and their digitalization is explained. The process is illustrated by various figures showing the sectioning process, the paraffin embedded brain, a sectioned slide, and the digitalization. It is shown that these processes lead to unwanted highly non-linear distortion of the sections that inhibits a direct reconstruction.
Craig Speelman and Kim Kirsner
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780198570417
- eISBN:
- 9780191708657
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570417.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
For years now, learning has been at the heart of research within cognitive psychology. How do we acquire new knowledge and new skills? Are the principles underlying skill acquisition unique to ...
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For years now, learning has been at the heart of research within cognitive psychology. How do we acquire new knowledge and new skills? Are the principles underlying skill acquisition unique to learning, or similar to those underlying other behaviours? Is the mental system essentially modular, or is the mental system a simple product of experience, a product that, inevitably, reflects the shape of the external world with all of its specialisms and similarities? This book takes the view that learning is a major influence on the nature of the processes and representations that fill our minds. Throughout, the book reviews and considers the areas of skill acquisition and lexical representation to illustrate the effects that practice can have on cognitive processes. It also draws parallels between theories in physical and biological domains to propose not only a new theory of mental function, but also demonstrate that the mind is essentially subject to the same natural laws as the physical world. In so doing, this book presents a new perspective on psychology — one that identifies universal principles underlying all behaviours and one which contrasts markedly from the current focus on highly specific behaviours.Less
For years now, learning has been at the heart of research within cognitive psychology. How do we acquire new knowledge and new skills? Are the principles underlying skill acquisition unique to learning, or similar to those underlying other behaviours? Is the mental system essentially modular, or is the mental system a simple product of experience, a product that, inevitably, reflects the shape of the external world with all of its specialisms and similarities? This book takes the view that learning is a major influence on the nature of the processes and representations that fill our minds. Throughout, the book reviews and considers the areas of skill acquisition and lexical representation to illustrate the effects that practice can have on cognitive processes. It also draws parallels between theories in physical and biological domains to propose not only a new theory of mental function, but also demonstrate that the mind is essentially subject to the same natural laws as the physical world. In so doing, this book presents a new perspective on psychology — one that identifies universal principles underlying all behaviours and one which contrasts markedly from the current focus on highly specific behaviours.
Herman Cappelen and Ernest Lepore
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199231195
- eISBN:
- 9780191710810
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199231195.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This book examines what happens when language becomes self-reflexive; when language is used to talk about language. Those who think, talk, and write about language are habitual users of various ...
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This book examines what happens when language becomes self-reflexive; when language is used to talk about language. Those who think, talk, and write about language are habitual users of various meta-linguistic devices, but reliance on these devices begins early — kids are told, “That's called a rabbit”. It's not implausible that a primitive capacity for the meta-linguistic kicks in at the beginning stages of language acquisition. But no matter when or how frequently these devices are invoked, one thing is clear: they present theorists of language with a complex data pattern. This book shows that the study of these devices and patterns not only represents an interesting and neglected project in the philosophy of language, but also carries important consequences for other parts of philosophy. Part I is devoted to presenting data about various aspects of our meta-linguistic practices. In Part II, the book examines and rejects the four leading meta-linguistic theories, and offers a new account of our use of quotation in a variety of different contexts. But the primary goal of this book is not to promote one theory over another. Rather, it is to present a deeply puzzling set of problems and explain their significance.Less
This book examines what happens when language becomes self-reflexive; when language is used to talk about language. Those who think, talk, and write about language are habitual users of various meta-linguistic devices, but reliance on these devices begins early — kids are told, “That's called a rabbit”. It's not implausible that a primitive capacity for the meta-linguistic kicks in at the beginning stages of language acquisition. But no matter when or how frequently these devices are invoked, one thing is clear: they present theorists of language with a complex data pattern. This book shows that the study of these devices and patterns not only represents an interesting and neglected project in the philosophy of language, but also carries important consequences for other parts of philosophy. Part I is devoted to presenting data about various aspects of our meta-linguistic practices. In Part II, the book examines and rejects the four leading meta-linguistic theories, and offers a new account of our use of quotation in a variety of different contexts. But the primary goal of this book is not to promote one theory over another. Rather, it is to present a deeply puzzling set of problems and explain their significance.
James P. Blevins and Juliette Blevins (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199547548
- eISBN:
- 9780191720628
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199547548.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Psycholinguistics / Neurolinguistics / Cognitive Linguistics, Computational Linguistics
Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What ...
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Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What patterns of structural similarity do speakers select as the basis for analogical extension? What types of items are particularly susceptible or resistant to analogical pressures? At what levels do analogical processes operate and how do processes interact? What formal mechanisms are appropriate for modeling analogy? What analogical processes are evident in language acquisition? Answers to these questions emerge from this book which is a synthesis of typological, experimental, computational, and developmental paradigms.Less
Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What patterns of structural similarity do speakers select as the basis for analogical extension? What types of items are particularly susceptible or resistant to analogical pressures? At what levels do analogical processes operate and how do processes interact? What formal mechanisms are appropriate for modeling analogy? What analogical processes are evident in language acquisition? Answers to these questions emerge from this book which is a synthesis of typological, experimental, computational, and developmental paradigms.
Namhee Lee, Lisa Mikesell, Anna Dina L. Joaquin, Andrea W. Mates, and John H. Schumann
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195384246
- eISBN:
- 9780199869916
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195384246.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This book explores a theory of language evolution as a complex adaptive system that exists as a cultural artifact without any requirement for innate abstract grammatical representations. Language ...
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This book explores a theory of language evolution as a complex adaptive system that exists as a cultural artifact without any requirement for innate abstract grammatical representations. Language acquisition is seen as an emotionally driven process relying on innately specified “interactional instinct.” This genetically-based tendency provides neural structures that entrain children acquiring their native language to the faces, voices, and body movements of conspecific caregivers. It is essentially an innate attentional and motivational system, which drives children to pay attention to the language interaction in their environment and to acquire that language by general learning mechanisms that subserve declarative and procedural knowledge. This mechanism guarantees the ubiquity of language acquisition for all biologically normal children. Second-language acquisition by older adolescents and adults no longer has recourse to this mechanism, and therefore, success in second-language learning is extremely variable. However, in some individuals with sufficient aptitude and motivation, successful second-language acquisition can be achieved.Less
This book explores a theory of language evolution as a complex adaptive system that exists as a cultural artifact without any requirement for innate abstract grammatical representations. Language acquisition is seen as an emotionally driven process relying on innately specified “interactional instinct.” This genetically-based tendency provides neural structures that entrain children acquiring their native language to the faces, voices, and body movements of conspecific caregivers. It is essentially an innate attentional and motivational system, which drives children to pay attention to the language interaction in their environment and to acquire that language by general learning mechanisms that subserve declarative and procedural knowledge. This mechanism guarantees the ubiquity of language acquisition for all biologically normal children. Second-language acquisition by older adolescents and adults no longer has recourse to this mechanism, and therefore, success in second-language learning is extremely variable. However, in some individuals with sufficient aptitude and motivation, successful second-language acquisition can be achieved.
Han Smit and Thras Moraitis
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691140001
- eISBN:
- 9781400852178
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691140001.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
It is widely accepted that a large proportion of acquisition strategies fail to deliver the expected value. Globalizing markets characterized by growing uncertainty, together with the advent of new ...
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It is widely accepted that a large proportion of acquisition strategies fail to deliver the expected value. Globalizing markets characterized by growing uncertainty, together with the advent of new competitors, are further complicating the task of valuing acquisitions. Too often, managers rely on flawed valuation models or their intuition and experience when making risky investment decisions, exposing their companies to potentially costly pitfalls. This book provides managers with a powerful methodology for designing and executing successful acquisition strategies. The book tackles the myriad executive biases that infect decision making at every stage of the acquisition process, and the inadequacy of current valuation approaches to help mitigate these biases and more realistically represent value in uncertain environments. Bringing together the latest advances in behavioral finance, real option valuation, and game theory, this book explains how to express acquisition strategies as sets of real options, explicitly introducing uncertainty and future optionality into acquisition strategy design. It shows how to incorporate the competitive dynamics that exist in different acquisition contexts, acknowledge and even embrace uncertainty, identify the value of the real options embedded in targets, and more. Rooted in economic theory and featuring numerous real-world case studies, the book will enhance the ability of CEOs and their teams to derive value from their acquisition strategies, and is also an ideal resource for researchers and MBAs.Less
It is widely accepted that a large proportion of acquisition strategies fail to deliver the expected value. Globalizing markets characterized by growing uncertainty, together with the advent of new competitors, are further complicating the task of valuing acquisitions. Too often, managers rely on flawed valuation models or their intuition and experience when making risky investment decisions, exposing their companies to potentially costly pitfalls. This book provides managers with a powerful methodology for designing and executing successful acquisition strategies. The book tackles the myriad executive biases that infect decision making at every stage of the acquisition process, and the inadequacy of current valuation approaches to help mitigate these biases and more realistically represent value in uncertain environments. Bringing together the latest advances in behavioral finance, real option valuation, and game theory, this book explains how to express acquisition strategies as sets of real options, explicitly introducing uncertainty and future optionality into acquisition strategy design. It shows how to incorporate the competitive dynamics that exist in different acquisition contexts, acknowledge and even embrace uncertainty, identify the value of the real options embedded in targets, and more. Rooted in economic theory and featuring numerous real-world case studies, the book will enhance the ability of CEOs and their teams to derive value from their acquisition strategies, and is also an ideal resource for researchers and MBAs.
Fiona Cowie
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195159783
- eISBN:
- 9780199849529
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195159783.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
This book reconsiders the influential nativist position toward the mind. Nativists assert that some concepts, beliefs, or capacities are innate or inborn: “native” to the mind rather than acquired. ...
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This book reconsiders the influential nativist position toward the mind. Nativists assert that some concepts, beliefs, or capacities are innate or inborn: “native” to the mind rather than acquired. The author argues that this view is mistaken, demonstrating that nativism is an unstable amalgam of two quite different—and probably inconsistent—theses about the mind. Unlike empiricists, who postulate domain-neutral learning strategies, nativists insist that some learning tasks require special kinds of skills, and that these skills are hard-wired into our brains at birth. This “faculties hypothesis” finds its modern expression in the views of Noam Chomsky. The author, marshalling recent empirical evidence from developmental psychology, psycholinguistics, computer science, and linguistics, provides a critique of Chomsky's nativism and defends in its place a moderately nativist approach to language acquisition. Also, in contrast to empiricists, who view the mind as simply another natural phenomenon susceptible to scientific explanation, nativists suspect that the mental is inelectably mysterious. The author addresses this second strand in nativist thought, taking on the view articulated by Jerry Fodor and other nativists that learning, particularly concept acquisition, is a fundamentally inexplicable process. She challenges this explanatory pessimism, and argues that concept acquisition is psychologically explicable.Less
This book reconsiders the influential nativist position toward the mind. Nativists assert that some concepts, beliefs, or capacities are innate or inborn: “native” to the mind rather than acquired. The author argues that this view is mistaken, demonstrating that nativism is an unstable amalgam of two quite different—and probably inconsistent—theses about the mind. Unlike empiricists, who postulate domain-neutral learning strategies, nativists insist that some learning tasks require special kinds of skills, and that these skills are hard-wired into our brains at birth. This “faculties hypothesis” finds its modern expression in the views of Noam Chomsky. The author, marshalling recent empirical evidence from developmental psychology, psycholinguistics, computer science, and linguistics, provides a critique of Chomsky's nativism and defends in its place a moderately nativist approach to language acquisition. Also, in contrast to empiricists, who view the mind as simply another natural phenomenon susceptible to scientific explanation, nativists suspect that the mental is inelectably mysterious. The author addresses this second strand in nativist thought, taking on the view articulated by Jerry Fodor and other nativists that learning, particularly concept acquisition, is a fundamentally inexplicable process. She challenges this explanatory pessimism, and argues that concept acquisition is psychologically explicable.
Ruth Garrett Millikan
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- February 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199284764
- eISBN:
- 9780191603167
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199284768.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
Guiding the work of most linguists and philosophers of language today is the assumption that language is governed by rules. This volume presents a different way of viewing the partial regularities ...
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Guiding the work of most linguists and philosophers of language today is the assumption that language is governed by rules. This volume presents a different way of viewing the partial regularities that language displays, the way they express norms and conventions. It argues that the central norms applying to language are non-evaluative; they are more like those norms of function and behavior that account for the survival and proliferation of biological species. Specific linguistic forms survive and are reproduced together with cooperative hearer responses because some portion of the time these patterns of production and response benefit both speakers and hearers. What needs to be reproduced, however, for a given language to survive is not specific conceptual rules or inference patterns, but only satisfaction conditions concerning distal objects and properties, and essential elements of hearer response. Thus, the psychological processes that support the use of proper names, of words for kinds, properties and so forth, need to be examined anew, resulting in a fairly uncompromising rejection of conceptual analysis as a tool in philosophy. Further results concern the distinction between the propositional content and the force of a linguistic utterance and a new description of illocutionary acts. It turns out that neither the intentionality of thought nor the intentionality of language is derived from the other. Also, the processes involved in understanding language are best modeled as a form of direct perception of the world parallel, for example, to perception mediated by the natural signs contained in structured light, and results in a radically new description of how children learn language.Less
Guiding the work of most linguists and philosophers of language today is the assumption that language is governed by rules. This volume presents a different way of viewing the partial regularities that language displays, the way they express norms and conventions. It argues that the central norms applying to language are non-evaluative; they are more like those norms of function and behavior that account for the survival and proliferation of biological species. Specific linguistic forms survive and are reproduced together with cooperative hearer responses because some portion of the time these patterns of production and response benefit both speakers and hearers. What needs to be reproduced, however, for a given language to survive is not specific conceptual rules or inference patterns, but only satisfaction conditions concerning distal objects and properties, and essential elements of hearer response. Thus, the psychological processes that support the use of proper names, of words for kinds, properties and so forth, need to be examined anew, resulting in a fairly uncompromising rejection of conceptual analysis as a tool in philosophy. Further results concern the distinction between the propositional content and the force of a linguistic utterance and a new description of illocutionary acts. It turns out that neither the intentionality of thought nor the intentionality of language is derived from the other. Also, the processes involved in understanding language are best modeled as a form of direct perception of the world parallel, for example, to perception mediated by the natural signs contained in structured light, and results in a radically new description of how children learn language.
Erik J. Olsson
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199279999
- eISBN:
- 9780191602665
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199279993.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology
According to the popular coherence theory of knowledge and justification, if a person's beliefs are coherent, they are also likely to be true. This book is the most extensive and detailed study of ...
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According to the popular coherence theory of knowledge and justification, if a person's beliefs are coherent, they are also likely to be true. This book is the most extensive and detailed study of coherence and probability to date. The book takes the reader through much of the history of the subject, from early theorists like A. C. Ewing and C. I. Lewis to contemporary figures like Laurence BonJour and C. A. J. Coady. The arguments presented are general enough to cover coherence between any items of information, including those deriving from belief, memory, or testimony. It is argued that coherence does not play the positive role that it is generally ascribed in the process whereby beliefs are acquired. The opposite of coherence, incoherence, is nonetheless the driving force in the process whereby beliefs are retracted.Less
According to the popular coherence theory of knowledge and justification, if a person's beliefs are coherent, they are also likely to be true. This book is the most extensive and detailed study of coherence and probability to date. The book takes the reader through much of the history of the subject, from early theorists like A. C. Ewing and C. I. Lewis to contemporary figures like Laurence BonJour and C. A. J. Coady. The arguments presented are general enough to cover coherence between any items of information, including those deriving from belief, memory, or testimony. It is argued that coherence does not play the positive role that it is generally ascribed in the process whereby beliefs are acquired. The opposite of coherence, incoherence, is nonetheless the driving force in the process whereby beliefs are retracted.
Han Smit and Thras Moraitis
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691140001
- eISBN:
- 9781400852178
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691140001.003.0007
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
This chapter reviews the strategic framework that integrates options and competitive games to de-bias decision making, and recaps the main conclusions and strategy implications. It provides empirical ...
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This chapter reviews the strategic framework that integrates options and competitive games to de-bias decision making, and recaps the main conclusions and strategy implications. It provides empirical evidence that acquisitions are driven by growth options and behavioral economics, discusses examples of option game applications beyond acquisitions, and lists promising directions for future research. Most important, it provides a decision framework for directly integrating finance and acquisition strategy in uncertain environments. The authors hope that this book helps readers apply an options perspective to significant nonfinancial decisions, including such vital life decisions such as the design of one's education strategy or career plan, or more common problems such how to plan holiday journeys. They believe valuable lessons can be learned as the reader applies the insights in this book to a broader set of uncertainty problems, although they are impossible to quantify.Less
This chapter reviews the strategic framework that integrates options and competitive games to de-bias decision making, and recaps the main conclusions and strategy implications. It provides empirical evidence that acquisitions are driven by growth options and behavioral economics, discusses examples of option game applications beyond acquisitions, and lists promising directions for future research. Most important, it provides a decision framework for directly integrating finance and acquisition strategy in uncertain environments. The authors hope that this book helps readers apply an options perspective to significant nonfinancial decisions, including such vital life decisions such as the design of one's education strategy or career plan, or more common problems such how to plan holiday journeys. They believe valuable lessons can be learned as the reader applies the insights in this book to a broader set of uncertainty problems, although they are impossible to quantify.
Sharan Jagpal
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195371055
- eISBN:
- 9780199870745
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195371055.003.0022
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Marketing
This chapter shows how the firm can use marketing-finance fusion to evaluate mergers and acquisition strategies. It examines the potential gains from mergers, the history of mergers and acquisitions, ...
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This chapter shows how the firm can use marketing-finance fusion to evaluate mergers and acquisition strategies. It examines the potential gains from mergers, the history of mergers and acquisitions, the effect of private equity firms and hedge funds on merger activity and merger performance, and the special problems posed by international mergers. In particular, it shows how buying and selling firms can objectively value brands by combining game theory and data from choice-based experiments.Less
This chapter shows how the firm can use marketing-finance fusion to evaluate mergers and acquisition strategies. It examines the potential gains from mergers, the history of mergers and acquisitions, the effect of private equity firms and hedge funds on merger activity and merger performance, and the special problems posed by international mergers. In particular, it shows how buying and selling firms can objectively value brands by combining game theory and data from choice-based experiments.
Maximilian de Gaynesford
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199287826
- eISBN:
- 9780191603570
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199287821.003.0013
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
I has the logical character, inferential role, referential function, expressive use, and communicative role of a deictic term. Uses of I share the referential security and ...
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I has the logical character, inferential role, referential function, expressive use, and communicative role of a deictic term. Uses of I share the referential security and identificatory ease of certain uses of other deictic terms. I has a distinct character within the group due to kind salience, expressive demonstration, communicative demonstration, and certain other features. These findings show that the whole standard account of indexicals and demonstratives, due to Kaplan, rests on two false principles and must be replaced. More positively, these findings offer new ways to explore first-personal thinking and self-knowledge, together with broader questions dependent on them such as practical reasoning, belief-acquisition, and belief-ascription.Less
I has the logical character, inferential role, referential function, expressive use, and communicative role of a deictic term. Uses of I share the referential security and identificatory ease of certain uses of other deictic terms. I has a distinct character within the group due to kind salience, expressive demonstration, communicative demonstration, and certain other features. These findings show that the whole standard account of indexicals and demonstratives, due to Kaplan, rests on two false principles and must be replaced. More positively, these findings offer new ways to explore first-personal thinking and self-knowledge, together with broader questions dependent on them such as practical reasoning, belief-acquisition, and belief-ascription.
Jerry A. Fodor
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198236368
- eISBN:
- 9780191597404
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198236360.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
Jerry Fodor presents a strikingly original theory of the basic constituents of thought. He suggests that the heart of a cognitive science is its theory of concepts, and that cognitive scientists have ...
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Jerry Fodor presents a strikingly original theory of the basic constituents of thought. He suggests that the heart of a cognitive science is its theory of concepts, and that cognitive scientists have gone badly wrong in many areas because their assumptions about concepts have been seriously mistaken. Fodor argues compellingly for an atomistic theory of concepts, and maintains that future work on human cognition should build upon new foundations. He starts by demolishing the rival theories that have prevailed in recent years—that concepts are definitions, that they are prototypes or stereotypes, that they are abstractions from belief systems, etc. He argues that all such theories are radically unsatisfactory for two closely related reasons: they hold that the content of a concept is determined, at least in part, by its inferential role; and they hold that typical concepts are structurally complex. Empirical and philosophical arguments against each of these claims are elaborated. Fodor then develops his alternative account, arguing that conceptual content is determined entirely by informational (mind—world) relations, and that typical concepts are atomic. The implications of this ‘informational atomism’ are considered in respect of issues in psychology, lexical semantics, and metaphysics, with particular attention to the relation between informational atomism and innateness.Less
Jerry Fodor presents a strikingly original theory of the basic constituents of thought. He suggests that the heart of a cognitive science is its theory of concepts, and that cognitive scientists have gone badly wrong in many areas because their assumptions about concepts have been seriously mistaken. Fodor argues compellingly for an atomistic theory of concepts, and maintains that future work on human cognition should build upon new foundations. He starts by demolishing the rival theories that have prevailed in recent years—that concepts are definitions, that they are prototypes or stereotypes, that they are abstractions from belief systems, etc. He argues that all such theories are radically unsatisfactory for two closely related reasons: they hold that the content of a concept is determined, at least in part, by its inferential role; and they hold that typical concepts are structurally complex. Empirical and philosophical arguments against each of these claims are elaborated. Fodor then develops his alternative account, arguing that conceptual content is determined entirely by informational (mind—world) relations, and that typical concepts are atomic. The implications of this ‘informational atomism’ are considered in respect of issues in psychology, lexical semantics, and metaphysics, with particular attention to the relation between informational atomism and innateness.
Philip Burton
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199266227
- eISBN:
- 9780191709098
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199266227.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
This chapter considers the presentation of language acquisition given in the Confessions. It is argued that Augustine presents this as being two-edged; language permits the child to interact with ...
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This chapter considers the presentation of language acquisition given in the Confessions. It is argued that Augustine presents this as being two-edged; language permits the child to interact with other speakers, but at the cost of being constrained within a system of language, ‘the authority of the ancestors’. The wider question of authority in the Confessions is then considered. It is suggested that authority may be seen as a positive, bottom-up recognition of what is useful and pleasurable, and that ultimately, the model for authority in language is the divine Logos.Less
This chapter considers the presentation of language acquisition given in the Confessions. It is argued that Augustine presents this as being two-edged; language permits the child to interact with other speakers, but at the cost of being constrained within a system of language, ‘the authority of the ancestors’. The wider question of authority in the Confessions is then considered. It is suggested that authority may be seen as a positive, bottom-up recognition of what is useful and pleasurable, and that ultimately, the model for authority in language is the divine Logos.
Terryl C. Givens
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195167115
- eISBN:
- 9780199785599
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195167115.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
Joseph built the church on the foundation of dialogic revelation, physical artifacts, testable historical claims, and the promise of spiritual certainty. Truth claims are absolute and categorical. At ...
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Joseph built the church on the foundation of dialogic revelation, physical artifacts, testable historical claims, and the promise of spiritual certainty. Truth claims are absolute and categorical. At the same time, Mormonism conceives of salvation as a process rather than event, tied to learning, knowledge acquisition, and growth in intelligence. Eternal progress and continuing revelation are key doctrines.Less
Joseph built the church on the foundation of dialogic revelation, physical artifacts, testable historical claims, and the promise of spiritual certainty. Truth claims are absolute and categorical. At the same time, Mormonism conceives of salvation as a process rather than event, tied to learning, knowledge acquisition, and growth in intelligence. Eternal progress and continuing revelation are key doctrines.
Michael Devitt
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199250967
- eISBN:
- 9780191603945
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250960.003.0012
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally ...
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This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally learn only languages that conform to the rules specified by “Universal Grammar” (the UG-rules). It rejects Fodor’s “only-theory-in-town” abduction for the very exciting “I-Representational Thesis”, the thesis that the UG-rules are represented in the initial state. It argues that this thesis lacks significant evidence and is implausible. The chapter also argues for some tentative proposals: that the UG-rules are, largely if not entirely, innate structure rules of thought, a proposal resting on the Language-of-Thought Hypothesis (LOTH); that if LOTH is false, then the UG-rules are not, in a robust way, innate in a speaker; and that there is little or nothing to the language faculty. The chapter concludes the book-long argument that there is no significant evidence for the Representational Thesis (RT) and that it is implausible.Less
This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally learn only languages that conform to the rules specified by “Universal Grammar” (the UG-rules). It rejects Fodor’s “only-theory-in-town” abduction for the very exciting “I-Representational Thesis”, the thesis that the UG-rules are represented in the initial state. It argues that this thesis lacks significant evidence and is implausible. The chapter also argues for some tentative proposals: that the UG-rules are, largely if not entirely, innate structure rules of thought, a proposal resting on the Language-of-Thought Hypothesis (LOTH); that if LOTH is false, then the UG-rules are not, in a robust way, innate in a speaker; and that there is little or nothing to the language faculty. The chapter concludes the book-long argument that there is no significant evidence for the Representational Thesis (RT) and that it is implausible.
Han Smit and Thras Moraitis
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691140001
- eISBN:
- 9781400852178
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691140001.003.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
This chapter provides the reader with a helicopter view of a quantitative value-based framework. A key argument in this book is that volatility is always present. Uncertainty means that today's ...
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This chapter provides the reader with a helicopter view of a quantitative value-based framework. A key argument in this book is that volatility is always present. Uncertainty means that today's successful CEOs and their executive teams need to be able to act simultaneously as strategists—that is, designers of corporate strategy—and opportunists—with the ability to grasp opportunities that meet their value criteria as they arise. In essence, this requires the setting of clear strategic goals, but—given the reality of uncertainty—also being willing to revise intended decisions, seeking to continually maximize the organization's options to appropriate value. While uncertainty generally deters investment, executives who reframe their roles as strategic opportunists can actually benefit from uncertainty.Less
This chapter provides the reader with a helicopter view of a quantitative value-based framework. A key argument in this book is that volatility is always present. Uncertainty means that today's successful CEOs and their executive teams need to be able to act simultaneously as strategists—that is, designers of corporate strategy—and opportunists—with the ability to grasp opportunities that meet their value criteria as they arise. In essence, this requires the setting of clear strategic goals, but—given the reality of uncertainty—also being willing to revise intended decisions, seeking to continually maximize the organization's options to appropriate value. While uncertainty generally deters investment, executives who reframe their roles as strategic opportunists can actually benefit from uncertainty.
Han Smit and Thras Moraitis
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691140001
- eISBN:
- 9781400852178
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691140001.003.0002
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
It is puzzling to note that while companies seem to rush into acquisitions during global economic booms—even when they are aware of the dangers of overpaying—they appear to lose all interest in ...
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It is puzzling to note that while companies seem to rush into acquisitions during global economic booms—even when they are aware of the dangers of overpaying—they appear to lose all interest in dealing when the global economy is sluggish and the market invariably offers bargains. Deal framing in executives' analyses—the way they perceive and model their acquisition or divestment opportunities—can cause them to overestimate acquisition opportunities in hot deal markets, while their dismay in cold markets often induces them to frame deals as representing too high risk, so they hold back from making viable new acquisitions or delay divesting loss-making divisions. Decision biases can play surprisingly strong roles in the valuation analyses of even experienced executives. This chapter focuses on this particular problem: how rational analyses can become infected and lead executives to manipulate their analyses to get the answers they expect or require. It proposes a remedy that goes beyond currently applied valuation models.Less
It is puzzling to note that while companies seem to rush into acquisitions during global economic booms—even when they are aware of the dangers of overpaying—they appear to lose all interest in dealing when the global economy is sluggish and the market invariably offers bargains. Deal framing in executives' analyses—the way they perceive and model their acquisition or divestment opportunities—can cause them to overestimate acquisition opportunities in hot deal markets, while their dismay in cold markets often induces them to frame deals as representing too high risk, so they hold back from making viable new acquisitions or delay divesting loss-making divisions. Decision biases can play surprisingly strong roles in the valuation analyses of even experienced executives. This chapter focuses on this particular problem: how rational analyses can become infected and lead executives to manipulate their analyses to get the answers they expect or require. It proposes a remedy that goes beyond currently applied valuation models.
G. Anandalingam and Henry C. Lucas
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195177404
- eISBN:
- 9780199789559
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195177404.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
In the case of an acquisition or a merger, it is very often the case that when an individual or company perceives itself to be the winner, subsequent events will show that the victory was overvalued. ...
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In the case of an acquisition or a merger, it is very often the case that when an individual or company perceives itself to be the winner, subsequent events will show that the victory was overvalued. Both psychological and market based forces often lead managers to greatly overestimate what they are buying, resulting in the “winner’s curse”. In an effort to grow their companies, competitive and overly confident managers with high compensation packages make rash decisions. The pressure put on values by the stock market, stock analysts, and investment bankers is coupled with the presence of a bidding psychology. When senior management experiences “buyer’s remorse”, having made overly optimistic forecasts about the future of the company, a true financial “curse” often ensues. In the event that a company does “win” by making it to the top of its industry, complacency or hubris caused by a sense of invulnerability often conspire to move the company out of the winner’s column. This book examines the phenomenon of the “winner’s curse”. It presents a number of cases illustrating the curse, and examines the reasons for it in each instance. It also looks at situations where CEOs decided to walk away from “winning” because of their sober ability to trade-off the risks of winning versus the real returns. In particular, the last chapter presents a series of “take-aways” for any manager to follow to avoid the winner’s curse.Less
In the case of an acquisition or a merger, it is very often the case that when an individual or company perceives itself to be the winner, subsequent events will show that the victory was overvalued. Both psychological and market based forces often lead managers to greatly overestimate what they are buying, resulting in the “winner’s curse”. In an effort to grow their companies, competitive and overly confident managers with high compensation packages make rash decisions. The pressure put on values by the stock market, stock analysts, and investment bankers is coupled with the presence of a bidding psychology. When senior management experiences “buyer’s remorse”, having made overly optimistic forecasts about the future of the company, a true financial “curse” often ensues. In the event that a company does “win” by making it to the top of its industry, complacency or hubris caused by a sense of invulnerability often conspire to move the company out of the winner’s column. This book examines the phenomenon of the “winner’s curse”. It presents a number of cases illustrating the curse, and examines the reasons for it in each instance. It also looks at situations where CEOs decided to walk away from “winning” because of their sober ability to trade-off the risks of winning versus the real returns. In particular, the last chapter presents a series of “take-aways” for any manager to follow to avoid the winner’s curse.
Han Smit and Thras Moraitis
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691140001
- eISBN:
- 9781400852178
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691140001.003.0003
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
In a period of only a few years in the early 2000s, Vodafone's then CEO Chris Gent grew the company from a small UK-based mobile operator into the world leader, with over 240 million customers. He ...
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In a period of only a few years in the early 2000s, Vodafone's then CEO Chris Gent grew the company from a small UK-based mobile operator into the world leader, with over 240 million customers. He did this via a sequence of 26 strategic transactions, including the acquisition of AirTouch and deals leading to the creation of the Verizon wireless business in the United States. Judging from Vodafone's acquisition story, Gent played his cards well, while both Vodafone's rivals and the financial markets acted irrationally in some instances. However, even Gent may have made some typical serial acquisition errors on the road to building the world's leading telecom company. This chapter uses the Vodafone story to illustrate how behavioral pitfalls in strategy, valuation, and bidding can be related to various components of the options and game valuation approach.Less
In a period of only a few years in the early 2000s, Vodafone's then CEO Chris Gent grew the company from a small UK-based mobile operator into the world leader, with over 240 million customers. He did this via a sequence of 26 strategic transactions, including the acquisition of AirTouch and deals leading to the creation of the Verizon wireless business in the United States. Judging from Vodafone's acquisition story, Gent played his cards well, while both Vodafone's rivals and the financial markets acted irrationally in some instances. However, even Gent may have made some typical serial acquisition errors on the road to building the world's leading telecom company. This chapter uses the Vodafone story to illustrate how behavioral pitfalls in strategy, valuation, and bidding can be related to various components of the options and game valuation approach.
