Abstract There is a general agreement in the contemporary discussion on practical reasons that the reasons for which we act are able to explain our actions. These first‐person explanatory reasons, closely connected to motivating reasons, can be called, for ease of exposition, “agential reasons.” The acceptance of agential reasons largely relies on our ordinary practices of giving explanations. Based on some standard considerations about the notion of explanation and central cases of explanatory relationships already developed in the literature, I will cast some doubts on the idea that there are agential reasons as a subcategory of explanatory reasons for actions. I will then suggest that this skeptical suggestion on agential reasons need not embrace either an error theory of our explanatory practices or a psychological reading of them. Rather, I will propose an alternative normative account that I believe fits better with the explanatory interest underlying them.

Learning involves forming associations between sensory events that have a consistent temporal relationship. Influential theories based on prediction errors explain numerous behavioral and neurobiological observations but do not account for how animals measure the passage of time. Here, we propose a theory for temporal causal learning, where the structure of inter-stimulus intervals is used to infer the singular cause of a rewarding stimulus. We show that a single assumption of timescale invariance, formulated as an hierarchical generative model, is sufficient to explain a puzzling set of learning phenomena, including the power-law dependence of acquisition on inter-trial intervals and timescale invariance in response profiles. A biologically plausible algorithm for inference recapitulates salient aspects of both timing and prediction error theories. The theory predicts neural signals with distinct dynamics that encode causal associations and temporal structure.

One aspect illustrating the connection between language and its psychological functions is speech production, which can reveal how psychological, cognitive, and physical conditions influence spoken language, potentially leading to speech production problems. This study investigates speech production issues in a fictional setting through the expressions of Riley, a character in the movie Inside Out 2, who faces emotional and cognitive challenges during adolescence. The aim of this analysis is to identify the variety of speech production errors and the underlying reasons for these errors in Riley's utterances. Using qualitative content analysis, the research applies Levelt’s (1989) speech production model, Warren’s (2013) theory of speech errors, and Clark and Clark’s (1977) framework to identify and categorize speech errors in Riley’s speech. Data were collected by documentation through watching Inside Out 2, transcribing Riley's utterances, identifying errors, and categorizing them by type, stage, and cause based on established theoretical frameworks. Eight types of errors were found i.e.: silent pauses, filled pauses, stuttering, repetition, substitution, anticipation, omission, and self-repair. The most common error is the silent pause, while substitution, anticipation, and repetition occur less frequently. Most errors are influenced by psychological factors, such as anxiety and emotional instability related to puberty, alongside cognitive and motor constraints. The findings demonstrate how emotional and cognitive challenges affect speech production in teenagers, highlighting the relevance of psycholinguistic theory in analyzing natural speech within fictional narratives.

Abstract In Morality: From Error to Fiction , Richard Joyce builds a case against the existence of moral facts that consists of three independent arguments. In my assessment, these arguments are unpersuasive. The argument from naturalism presupposes that the world contains only physical facts. I present several reasons to reject such a restriction. The argument from unreliability rests on the claim that moral intuitions are untrustworthy and thus cannot justify moral beliefs. Joyce’s reasons to that effect do not hold up to critical scrutiny. The argument from responsibility states that moral facts do not exist because they necessitate moral responsibility, which is nowhere to be found. I question both premises, arguing that some moral facts do not necessitate moral responsibility and that some form of moral responsibility exists. Overall, while Joyce’s arguments are not entirely bad, I think they are not good enough to make a powerful case for error theory.

Abstract The argument from queerness is one of the most important arguments for moral error theory. Moral error theory holds that moral discourse is hopelessly flawed or, more precisely, that all moral judgements are false. The argument from queerness, in the version I am concerned with, claims that moral discourse is centrally committed to the thesis that moral facts entail categorical reasons, understood as irreducibly normative favouring relations, and that if this thesis were true, moral facts would be queer. In this paper, I argue that axiology does not fall prey to the argument from queerness. Axiology is the part of moral discourse that examines which things are good, which things are bad, and what makes good things good and bad things bad. I argue that axiology survives the argument from queerness for three reasons. First, many axiological judgements are not committed to the thesis in question. Second, some judgements about moral value are committed to the thesis but do not belong to axiology. Third, some axiological judgements are committed to the thesis but can simply be removed from axiological discourse.

Abstract The moduli space of stable rational curves with marked points has two distinguished families of maps: the forgetful maps, given by forgetting some of the markings, and the Kapranov maps, given by complete linear series of $\psi $-classes. The collection of all these maps embeds the moduli space into a product of projective spaces. We call the multidegrees of this embedding “Kapranov degrees,” which include as special cases the work of Witten, Silversmith, Gallet–Grasegger–Schicho, Castravet–Tevelev, Postnikov, Cavalieri–Gillespie–Monin, and Gillespie–Griffin–Levinson. We establish, in terms of a combinatorial matching condition, upper bounds for Kapranov degrees and a characterization of their positivity. The positivity characterization answers a question of Silversmith and gives a new proof of Laman’s theorem characterizing generically rigid graphs in the plane. We achieve this by proving a recursive formula for Kapranov degrees and by using tools from the theory of error correcting codes.

Abstract Richard Joyce’s new book, Morality: From Error to Fiction, is a sophisticated and enjoyable work. While the book’s ambitions and structure are similar to those of Joyce’s 2001 book, The Myth of Morality, there are also several important differences. This time Joyce’s case for moral error theory appeals to a collection of arguments of different kinds, and he criticizes his earlier self as well as J. L. Mackie’s seminal 1977 book, Ethics, for relying too heavily on one or two master arguments. We argue, however, that some of Joyce’s arguments, especially his critique of moral naturalism, bear closer resemblance to Mackie’s than Joyce lets on. We also argue that Joyce’s critique of moral non-naturalism is less persuasive than Mackie’s. Finally, we briefly criticize some of Joyce’s ideas concerning the implications of metaethical indeterminacy.

Based on the characteristics of offshore pile foundation engineering, this study proposes a novel interpretation method for pile settlement time history signals in Rapid Load Testing (RLT). The approach utilizes Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) to decompose and reconstruct the originally acquired acceleration signals, effectively eliminating high-frequency noise and significantly enhancing signal quality. After obtaining a purified acceleration signal, the study further refines the velocity signal based on the velocity characteristics at the beginning and end of the loading process, aiming to mitigate the influence of initial and boundary conditions on the velocity data. This process yields a highly accurate displacement time history curve. To validate the superiority of VMD in acceleration signal processing, a signal model test was conducted. Comparative experimental results demonstrate that the displacement time history curve derived from VMD-processed signals not only exhibits smaller relative errors and higher precision but also shows significant waveform improvements compared to curves obtained through direct integration of filtered signals. The research indicates that for marine pile foundations, using VMD to decompose and reconstruct the signals, and applying the continuous mean square error theory to identify the critical components of noise and effective signals has significant advantages in the processing of displacement signals using RLT. Compared with traditional analysis methods, the study successfully achieved the effective removal of high-frequency noise in the signal by applying the VMD technique to the decomposition and reconstruction of acceleration signals, significantly improving the quality of the signal. The assumption of zero pile head velocity before and after loading enables accurate determination of the actual pile head displacement

Abstract Richard Joyce proposes an innovative form of moral fictionalism according to which the moral error theorist can willingly suspend her moral disbelief by distracting herself from the systematic error that, in reflective moments, she believes to afflict moral thought and discourse. In this paper, I ask three questions about the life of ‘distraction fictionalists’. Specifically, I ask what distraction fictionalists should say about (a) the use of self-distraction as a psychological coping strategy, (b) some limitations of the comparison that Joyce makes between his fictionalist response to moral error theory and our response to the paradox of happiness, and (c) certain commonly occurring situations in which transparency and the avoidance of deception are highly valued.

Speech errors refer to the “abnormal” language, which is grammatically or syntactically incorrect, produced by learners during oral communication due to nervousness or pressure. These errors mainly involve pronunciation and sentence construction mistakes. In the context of globalization, where international communication is increasingly frequent, speech errors can lead to communication difficulties or misunderstandings. Although psycholinguistics research has been growing, the number of studies on its branch, speech errors, has been decreasing in recent years. Under the guidance of Clark & Clark’s theory of speech errors, this research takes the corpora of 2024 “FLTRP·ETIC Cup” English Public Speaking Contest held by Yantai Institute of Technology as the research object. It analyses the types, frequencies, and reasons of speech errors in impromptu speech contests of English majors, and attempts to put forward some corresponding solutions. The study found that currently most frequent types of speech errors include filled pauses, silent pauses, and repeats. Negative native language transfer, inadequate comprehensive foreign language abilities, and anxiety about unfamiliar topics are the main reasons for speech errors. Therefore, students should actively learn the culture of English-speaking countries and practice oral output. For teachers, it is essential to create a conducive English learning environment to improve the speaking and oral communication skills of English major students and enhance their language confidence.

Abstract The measurement of pose parameters between pipes is a key step in the flange tie-back operation of deep-sea pipelines. In this paper, according to the research status of subsea pipeline relative pose measurement engineering and combined with the actual engineering requirements, a kind of subsea two-pipe measurement instrument based on flange bolt hole positioning is developed based on the drawstring measurement method, which aims to meet the measurement accuracy index and realize the measurement of all parameters in one launch. Based on the theory of pose transformation in robotics and the idea of transition matrix, the paper deduces a formula algorithm for calculating the pose parameters between pipelines. Based on the error theory, the error transfer relationship between measurement data error and pose parameter error was analyzed, and the specific influence of relative error of each measurement data on the relative error of pose parameter was analyzed. Based on the overall scheme of submarine pipeline measuring instrument, the experimental prototype of pipeline measuring system is processed and the land experiment is carried out, so as to verify the measuring accuracy of the measuring device and the correctness of the solving algorithm of the device.

The teaching of English writing is one of the most difficult points in English learning, especially in the middle school and high school English teaching stage; Error Theory Analysis is one of the important theories of foreign linguistic theories, which is of profound significance to writing teaching. Therefore, this paper mainly focuses on the role of error analysis theory in the process of secondary school writing teaching, analyzes the cases of correcting and improving students' writing errors by using error analysis theory, and analyzes how to improve students' interest in writing and enhance their confidence in English writing, so as to improve secondary school students' ability to write in a foreign language, and their ability to use the English language can be improved accordingly.

This article presents an integrated method for measuring the angular orientation of moving objects, combining a simplified mechanical structure to reduce instrumental errors with a hardware-software platform for adaptive compensation of dynamic errors. Unlike existing approaches, the method avoids inertial element stabilization by using an adaptive Kalman structure for real-time correction. Based on this method, a measuring system for determining roll and pitch has been developed and implemented using a two-channel measurement model with two independent signals and MEMS sensors. The accuracy of the system has been experimentally validated in both static and dynamic modes through a highly accurate reference system with traceability to international standards. A metrologically based methodology for quantitative assessment has also been developed, applying both the theory of error and the theory of uncertainty to provide an objective, reproducible, and traceable evaluation under real-world conditions.

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the emerging field of comparative metaethics by placing the thought of the Neo-Daoist, Guo Xiang 郭象, within the taxonomy of contemporary metaethics in order to offer two novel views: nonassertive moral abolitionism and reactionary moral fictionalism. These views help answer the ‘now what?’ question that arises for moral error theorists after they come to believe that all moral judgments are false. The views also assist in the understanding of Guo’s attempt to combine Daoism and Confucianism through his synthesis of ziran 自然 and mingjiao 名教, spontaneity and morality. The paper defends the claims that Guo was a proto-error theorist and used a distinct criterion to answer the ‘now what?’ question. With this criterion, Guo recommends morality’s quiet abolition along with the reservation of occasionally implementing a passive and reactive pretense performance of moral speech-acts when socially required.

Abstract It has long been assumed that the moral error theory faces a ‘Now What’ problem. The error theory says that all moral judgments are false, and the ‘Now What’ problem asks what we should do with our moral thought, talk, and practices in light of this conclusion. Whilst those in the debate often assume that solving the ‘Now What’ problem is an important burden for error theorists to overcome, the aim in this paper is to undermine this assumption. I do so in two steps. I first argue that the ‘Now What’ problem is best understood as a practical problem about what individual error theorists should do, rejecting an alternate framing of the problem which is found in the literature. I then argue that this problem is of little general interest, and respond to the claim that the plausibility of the error theory itself is in some way connected to the ‘Now What’ debate. Whilst the error theory does face many challenges, if my arguments are correct then the ‘Now What’ problem is not one of them.

ABSTRACTThis paper addresses the philosophical debate surrounding the ontological status of virtual objects. According to an influential anti‐realist view, virtual objects are merely fictional and therefore do not exist. My primary aim is to defend a realist view about virtual objects against this fictionalist anti‐realist view. I first challenge the anti‐realist view by comparing make‐believe games and virtual worlds. Then, I argue that although the debate between realists and anti‐realists about virtual objects may seem to reach a stalemate, a shared point of agreement can be used to break it. A key idea I seek to highlight is that there is no ontologically significant difference between colored objects and virtual objects. Lastly, I propose an error theory to address a potential worry with my view.

Abstract This paper defends the claim that metaethics can be done therapeutically. It does so by first showing how metaethics can fit into recent systemizations of philosophy as therapy. Borrowing from the work of Martha Nussbaum and Eugen Fischer, the paper discusses how metaethics can fulfill the criterion for both a philosophical therapy and a therapeutic philosophy. Then, it argues that there are examples of both robust moral realists and anti-realists doing metaethics as therapy. On the realist side, there is evidence of moral naturalists and non-naturalists doing metaethics for therapeutic ends. Likewise, on the anti-realist side, there are cases of both Pyrrhonian moral skeptics and moral error theorists, in how they answer the “now what?” question, displaying therapeutic motivations for their views. In the process, the concepts of health often implicitly employed by metaethicists are addressed and made explicit. The paper thus suggests that not only has metaethics been done as a kind of therapy, doing metaethics as therapy remains a live option for us today.

Abstract Parity-time (PT)-symmetric non-Hermitian systems exhibit a heightened sensitivity to external environmental changes, making them a popular choice in the field of quantum sensing. In this study, we designed a small tilt sensor based on the exceptional point (EP) of non-Hermitian systems. The measurement sensitivity of the sensor can be increased by a factor of 10000 times when compared with that of traditional sensors. However, in terms of the measurement precision of the EP sensor, there was no significant improvement because the EP sensor amplified the signal while amplifying the noise. Nonetheless, EP sensors retain clear advantages in specialized scenarios, such as detector saturation events, during which they surpass traditional sensors. Subsequently, we increased the measurement precision of the EP sensor by 2 n + 1 times by using high-order Hermite-Gaussian (HG) light, where n denotes the mode order of the signal light. Finally, we conclude this study with an analysis of the noise in EP sensors based on quantum error theory. Furthermore, we explore how EP sensors can strike a balance between high sensitivity and precision by incorporating a squeezed light field with elevated HG modes.

In this work, we aimed to determine the nonlinear disturbance caused by cascaded coupling rigid–flexible deformation and friction in a direct-driven servo electric cylinder terminal positioning system (DDSEC-TPS) during feed motion of an intermittent, reciprocating, and time-varying load. For this purpose, a cascaded coupling dynamic error model of DDSEC-TPS was established based on the position–pose error model of the parallel motion platform and the rotor field-oriented vector transform. Then, a model to observe the dynamic error of the DDSEC-TPS was established using the improved beetle antennae search algorithm backpropagation neural network (IBAS-BPNN) prediction model according to the rigid–flexible deformation error theory of feed motion, and the observed dynamic error was compensated for in the vector control strategy of the DDSEC-TPS. The length and error prediction models were trained and validated using opposite and mixed datasets tested on the experimental platform, to observe dynamic errors and evaluate and optimize the prediction models. The experimental results show that dynamic error compensation can improve the position tracking accuracy of the DDSEC-TPS and the position–pose performance of the parallel motion platform. This study is of great significance for improving the consistency of following multiple DDSEC-TPSs and the position–pose accuracy of parallel motion platforms.

Abstract The sensorless control method for built-in interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) based on high-frequency square-wave (HF) injection is being increasingly applied in electric vehicles due to its compact size and low cost. However, sensorless IPMSMs have weak anti-interference capability and poor dynamic performance, especially at low speeds. A novel adaptive extended state observer (AESO) for the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) of a sensorless IPMSM with HF square-wave injection is proposed. First, HF square-wave signals are injected into the estimated rotational coordinate system of the IPMSM, and the rotor position estimation error is obtained through signal response extraction and processing. Then, a novel AESO-based ADRC (AESO_ADRC) is designed to replace the traditional PI controller in the speed loop. The characteristics of the AESO are obtained by allocating time-varying eigenvalues based on the differential algebraic spectrum theory (DAST) of the estimation errors of the rotor position, speed, and total disturbances to reduce the disturbance of the state estimation error and the total disturbance. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the stabilization time of the AESO_ADRC method is the shortest under sudden changes in load and speed, with nearly zero overshoot. These results indicate that the AESO_ADRC method has good dynamic performance and strong anti-interference capability. Moreover, the method performs well at low speeds of 10 r/min, and the rotor position estimation error is minimum.