Primitive Concepts Research Articles

Sets and Functions in Theoretical Physics

It is easy to show that in many natural axiomatic formulations of physical and even mathematical theories, there are many superfluous concepts usually assumed as primitive. This happens mainly when these theories are formulated in the language of standard set theories, such as Zermelo–Fraenkel’s. In 1925, John von Neumann created a set theory where sets are definable by means of functions. We provide a reformulation of von Neumann’s set theory and show that it can be used to formulate physical and mathematical theories with a lower number of primitive concepts very naturally. Our basic proposal is to offer a new kind of set-theoretic language that offers advantages with respect to the standard approaches, since it doesn’t introduce dispensable primitive concepts. We show how the proposal works by considering significant physical theories, such as non-relativistic classical particle mechanics and classical field theories, as well as a well-known mathematical theory, namely, group theory. This is a first step of a research program we intend to pursue.

A reward-and-punishment-based approach for concept detection using adaptive ontology rules

Despite the fact that performance improvements have been reported in the last years, semantic concept detection in video remains a challenging problem. Existing concept detection techniques, with ontology rules, exploit the static correlations among primitive concepts but not the dynamic spatiotemporal correlations. The proposed method rewards (or punishes) detected primitive concepts using dynamic spatiotemporal correlations of the given ontology rules and updates these ontology rules based on the accuracy of detection. Adaptively learned ontology rules significantly help in improving the overall accuracy of concept detection as shown in the experimental result.

The readiness of SNOMED problem list concepts for meaningful use of electronic health records

By 2015, SNOMED CT (SCT) will become the USA's standard for encoding diagnoses and problem lists in electronic health records (EHRs). To facilitate this effort, the National Library of Medicine has published the "SCT Clinical Observations Recording and Encoding" and the "Veterans Health Administration and Kaiser Permanente" problem lists (collectively, the "PL"). The PL is studied in regard to its readiness to support meaningful use of EHRs. In particular, we wish to determine if inconsistencies appearing in SCT, in general, occur as frequently in the PL, and whether further quality-assurance (QA) efforts on the PL are required. A study is conducted where two random samples of SCT concepts are compared. The first consists of concepts strictly from the PL and the second contains general SCT concepts distributed proportionally to the PL's in terms of their hierarchies. Each sample is analyzed for its percentage of primitive concepts and for frequency of modeling errors of various severity levels as quality measures. A simple structural indicator, namely, the number of parents, is suggested to locate high likelihood inconsistencies in hierarchical relationships. The effectiveness of this indicator is evaluated. PL concepts are found to be slightly better than other concepts in the respective SCT hierarchies with regards to the quality measure of the percentage of primitive concepts and the frequency of modeling errors. There were 58% primitive concepts in the PL sample versus 62% in the control sample. The structural indicator of number of parents is shown to be statistically significant in its ability to identify concepts having a higher likelihood of inconsistencies in their hierarchical relationships. The absolute number of errors in the group of concepts having 1-3 parents was shown to be significantly lower than that for concepts with 4-6 parents and those with 7 or more parents based on Chi-squared analyses. PL concepts suffer from the same issues as general SCT concepts, although to a slightly lesser extent, and do require further QA efforts to promote meaningful use of EHRs. To support such efforts, a structural indicator is shown to effectively ferret out potentially problematic concepts where those QA efforts should be focused.

Automatic Learning of Temporal Relations Under the Closed World Assumption

Time plays an important role in the vast majority of problems and, as such, it is a vital issue to be considered when developing computer systems for solving problems. In the literature, one of the most influential formalisms for representing time is known as Allen's Temporal Algebra based on a set of 13 relations basic and reversed that may hold between two time intervals. In spite of having a few drawbacks and limitations, Allen's formalism is still a convenient representation due to its simplicity and implementability and also, due to the fact that it has been the basis of several extensions. This paper explores the automatic learning of Allen's temporal relations by the inductive logic programming system FOIL, taking into account two possible representations for a time interval: i as a primitive concept and ii as a concept defined by the primitive concept of time point. The goals of the experiments described in the paper are 1 to explore the viability of both representations for use in automatic learning; 2 compare the facility and interpretability of the results; 3 evaluate the impact of the given examples for inducing a proper representation of the relations and 4 experiment with both representations under the assumption of a closed world CWA, which would ease continuous learning using FOIL. Experimental results are presented and discussed as evidence that the CWA can be a convenient strategy when learning Allen's temporal relations.

STATISTICAL ORIGIN OF SPECIAL AND DOUBLY SPECIAL RELATIVITY

We show how a Brownian motion on a short scale can originate a relativistic motion on scales larger than particle's Compton wavelength. Special relativity appears to be not a primitive concept, but rather it statistically emerges when a coarse graining average over distances of order, or longer than the Compton wavelength is taken. Our scheme accommodates easily also the doubly special relativistic dynamics. A previously unsuspected, common statistical origin of the two frameworks is brought to light for the first time.

Port-Based Ontology Modeling for Robot Leg Conceptual Design

Port, as an interface of the component, can be used to exchange information with its outer environment. It is the basis of the component concept and configuration generation. In this paper, port-based ontology representation is first given, and component knowledge and the primitive concepts are presented to describe robot leg ontological concepts. Secondly, the taxonomy of port-based ontology is built to map the component connections and interactions to cluster functional blocks, and their semantic synthesis is employed to describe component ontology. Next, an approach is proposed for computing semantic similarity by mapping terms to function ontology and by examining their relationships based on port ontology language. Furthermore, the construction process of port-based ontology concepts is described and its elements are related to the similarity between two concepts. Finally, a robot leg example is shown to illustrate the proposed approach.

Emergence of special and doubly special relativity

Building on our previous work [Phys. Rev. D 82, 085016 (2010)], we show in this paper how a Brownian motion on a short scale can originate a relativistic motion on scales that are larger than particle's Compton wavelength. This can be described in terms of polycrystalline vacuum. Viewed in this way, special relativity is not a primitive concept, but rather it statistically emerges when a coarse-graining average over distances of order, or longer than the Compton wavelength is taken. By analyzing the robustness of such a special relativity under small variations in the polycrystalline grain-size distribution we naturally arrive at the notion of doubly-special relativistic dynamics. In this way, a previously unsuspected, common statistical origin of the two frameworks is brought to light. Salient issues such as the r\^ole of gauge fixing in emergent relativity, generalized commutation relations, Hausdorff dimensions of representative path-integral trajectories and a connection with Feynman chessboard model are also discussed.

Quantum mechanics and local Lorentz symmetry violation

We show how a Brownian motion on a short scale can originate a relativistic motion on scales larger than the particle's Compton wavelength. Thus, Lorentz symmetry appears to be not a primitive concept, but rather it statistically emerges when a coarse graining average over distances of order, or longer than the Compton wavelength, is taken. We also present the generalizations needed to accommodate in our scheme the doubly special relativistic dynamics. In this way, a previously unsuspected, common stochastic origin of the two frameworks is revealed for the first time. Issues such as generalized commutation relations are also discussed.

SUPERSTATISTICS APPROACH TO DOUBLY SPECIAL RELATIVITY

Using the concept known as a superstatistics path integral we show that a Wiener process on a short spatial scale can originate a relativistic motion on scales that are larger than particle's Compton wavelength. Viewed in this way, special relativity is not a primitive concept, but rather it statistically emerges when a coarse graining average over distances of order, or longer than the Compton wavelength is taken. Here we place a special emphasis on the modifications that are necessary to accommodate in our scheme the doubly special relativistic dynamics. In this way, a previously unsuspected, common statistical origin of the two frameworks is revealed. Salient issues such as generalized commutation relations and a connection with Feynman chessboard model are also discussed.

Emergence of special and doubly special relativity from superstatistics path integrals

Using the concept known as a superstatistics path integral we show that a Wiener process on a short spatial scale can originate a relativistic motion on scales that are larger than particle's Compton wavelength. Viewed in this way, special relativity is not a primitive concept, but rather it statistically emerges when a coarse graining average over distances of order, or longer than the Compton wavelength is taken. We also present the modifications necessary to accommodate in our scheme the doubly special relativistic dynamics. In this way, a previously unsuspected, common statistical origin of the two frameworks is revealed.

Nota o TRS i o tezie 7 Wittgensteina

The author reflects upon a possible empirical interpretation of Wittgenstein’s well known thesis 7 in his Tractatus , as applied to some problems encountered when dealing with TRS. The most general idea is that TRS is what ‘shows’, in Wittgenstein’s sense, rather than what can be rendered in terms of words; the reason being the threatening infinite regress behind any attempt at reducing the phenomena of TRS to primitive concepts as represented by definite segmental units. Subsequently, the author touches upon certain more specific themes in the relevant domain. One of them is the problem of how to account for non-restrictive attributes or “appositions”. The author stresses the fact that they do not yield to interpretation in terms of something p such that ‘the speaker said that p ’. Another issue is that of an adequate interpretation of ‘I’. The author shows irreparable inadequacies inherent in Wierzbicka’s as well as in his own (previous) accounts of ‘I’. According to his new proposal, ‘I’ is equivalent to ‘someone’ with the first subscript (in an arbitrary list of subscripts) appended to the organism / body of the current speaker; the latter just shows in Wittgenstein’s sense.

Addendum to the Elementary Process Theory

AbstractRecently, the Elementary Process Theory has been introduced as an axiomatic system with a potential application as a foundational framework for physics. This addendum clarifies the primitive concepts ‘phase quantum’ and ‘monad’ that play a central role in the physical picture that arises from the axiomatic system.

Towards a Transdisciplinary Frame: Bridging Domains, a Multidimensional Approach to Information

A trans-disciplinary frame is proposed, aimed at addressing the very understanding of information in all its variety. It aims at unifying perspectives and integrating techniques from different fields of knowledge and practice, searching for the most overarching account of information phenomena, a better formalization of real processes and a global stance towards problems concerning information. Such research frame might try to answer: Which are the basic distinct accounts of infor-mation to be applied in fields from telecommunication to philosophy, from biology to documentation, from logic to quantum physics? Which are the minimum primitive concepts that may cover all of them? Is a unified theory feasible? Could a better information measure be found? Could the societal and practical interest be better preserved in an integrated perspective of information? The methodological proposal aims at opening a space for the interweaving of different scientific frameworks (characterized by specific paradigms and methodologies) to delve into the very landscape of information, searching for a transdisciplinary treatment of theoretical, technical and practical problems concerning information. It is based on an already active interdisci-plinary International community and a critical mass of research groups at the global level. By means of bridging these com-munities, a new transdisciplinary science of information might emerge as an integrated framework in which information will be considered in all its formal, natural, cognitive, social, technical, ethical and philosophical aspects.

Towards a Transdisciplinary Frame: Bridging Domains, a Multidimensional Approach to Information

A trans-disciplinary frame is proposed, aimed at addressing the very understanding of information in all its variety. It aims at unifying perspectives and integrating techniques from different fields of knowledge and practice, searching for the most overarching account of information phenomena, a better formalization of real processes and a global stance towards problems concerning information. Such research frame might try to answer: Which are the basic distinct accounts of infor-mation to be applied in fields from telecommunication to philosophy, from biology to documentation, from logic to quantum physics? Which are the minimum primitive concepts that may cover all of them? Is a unified theory feasible? Could a better information measure be found? Could the societal and practical interest be better preserved in an integrated perspective of information? The methodological proposal aims at opening a space for the interweaving of different scientific frameworks (characterized by specific paradigms and methodologies) to delve into the very landscape of information, searching for a transdisciplinary treatment of theoretical, technical and practical problems concerning information. It is based on an already active interdisci-plinary International community and a critical mass of research groups at the global level. By means of bridging these com-munities, a new transdisciplinary science of information might emerge as an integrated framework in which information will be considered in all its formal, natural, cognitive, social, technical, ethical and philosophical aspects.

Verbal Disputes

The philosophical interest of verbal disputes is twofold. First, they play a key role in philosophical method. Many philosophical disagreements are at least partly verbal, and almost every philosophical dispute has been diagnosed as verbal at some point. Here we can see the diagnosis of verbal disputes as a tool for philosophical progress. Second, they are interesting as a subject matter for first-order philosophy. Reflection on the existence and nature of verbal disputes can reveal something about the nature of concepts, language, and meaning. In this article I first characterize verbal disputes, spell out a method for isolating and resolving them, and draw out conclusions for philosophical methodology. I then use the framework to draw out consequences in first-order philosophy. In particular, I argue that the analysis of verbal disputes can be used to support the existence of a distinctive sort of primitive concept and that it can be used to reconstruct a version of an analytic/synthetic distinction, where both are characterized in dialectical terms alone.

Path-Parameterization Approach Using Trajectory Primitives for Three-Dimensional Motion Planning

Motion planning determines trajectories for vehicles that link an initial location and heading with a final location and heading. Techniques for motion planning have been developed for two-dimensional maneuvering; however, they are less mature for three-dimensional maneuvering. The concept of motion primitives is particularly attractive for motion planning that determines trajectories as a set of maneuvers that satisfy differential constraints. This paper furthers work on a higher-level abstraction of trajectory primitives that consider sequences of motion primitives. In this paper, trajectory primitives are developed that deal with airspace constraints of an environment. The motion planning is shown to be an optimization involving a pair of trajectory primitives that is related by an intermediate waypoint. The resulting path is completely parameterized by the waypoint location.

What Is Library Use? Facets of Concept and a Typology of Its Application in the Literature of Library and Information Science

The “use” of library resources and services is frequently presented in library and information science (LIS) literature as a primitive concept: an idea that need not be defined when it is being measured as an operational variable in empirical research. This project considered representations of library use through the Evolutionary Concept Analysis (ECA) method, developed by nursing scholar Beth L. Rodgers to explore the significance of concepts within specific disciplinary, chronological, and theoretical contexts. Analysis of a 200-item sample of the LIS journal literature revealed that “use” is not a monolithic concept but, in fact, has multiple facets of meaning that are deployed in diverse contexts across the LIS publication spectrum. In addition to reviewing key discussions of library use in the LIS literature, this article presents a typology of its conceptual facets.

Beyond the building blocks model

AbstractCarey rightly rejects the building blocks model of concept acquisition on the grounds that new primitive concepts can be learned via the process of bootstrapping. But new primitives can be learned by other acquisition processes that do not involve bootstrapping, and bootstrapping itself is not a unitary process. Nonetheless, the processes associated with bootstrapping provide important insights into conceptual change.

What is the narrow content of fence (and other definitionally and interpretationally primitive concepts)?

AbstractIt's unclear what narrow content is interpersonally shared for concepts that don't originate from core cognition yet are still definitionally and interpretationally primitive. A primary concern is that for these concepts, one cannot draw a principled distinction between inferences that are content determining and those that aren't. The lack of a principled distinction imperils an account of interpersonally shared concepts.

Complementary perspectives on cognitive control.

Complementary perspectives on cognitive control.