In this article we provide an epistemological analysis of three uses of the concept of contingency in biology. On the basis of this analysis we propose a heuristic solution to the issue of contingency versus determinism in the domain of studies on the origin of life, which makes it possible to approach this problem from a scientific point of view rather than by recurring to belief.

This paper focuses on the foundational role of interactive epistemology in the problem of generating plans for rational agents in multiagent settings. Interactive epistemology deals with the logic of knowledge and belief when there is more than one agent. In multiagent settings, we are interested in not only the agent’s knowledge of the state of the world, but also its belief over the other age...

I wish to address the conference theme "Beyond Babel" by addressing the way we communicate with ourselves and each other from our diverse perspectives. In doing so, I build upon Worsfold's (1993) call for tolerance as "the prerequisite epistemological principle (p. 27)," that recognizes the fallibility of our beliefs and assumes that no belief system has a monopoly on truth. From this perspecti...

We review the definition of the Full Bayesian Significance Test (FBST), and summarize its main statistical and epistemological characteristics. We review also the Abstract Belief Calculus (ABC) of Derwiche and Ginsberg, and use it to analyze the FBST’s value of evidence. This analysis helps us understand the FBST properties, specially its consistency with the Onus Probandi principle, and why it...

I. AGM Belief Revision Theory 1) The Elements of Epistemological Theories: Ch. 1 of [4]. 2) Models of Epistemic States: Ch. 2.1 – 2.5 of [4]. 3) Expansions, Revisions, and Contractions I: Ch. 3.1 – 3.4 of [4]. 4) Expansions, Revisions, and Contractions II: Ch. 3.5 – 3.7 of [4]. 5) Epistemic Entrenchment and Construction of Contraction Functions I: Ch. 4.1 – 4.4. of [4]. 6) Epistemic Entrenchmen...

In this paper, the author explores epistemological aspects of simulation with a particular focus on using simulations to provide recommendations to managers and other decision-makers. The author presents formal definitions of knowledge (as justified true belief) and of simulation. The author shows that a simple model, the Kuramoto model of coupled-oscillators, satisfies the simulation definitio...

The central problem in the epistemology of perception is that of explaining how perception could give us knowledge of an external world. Although this is a perfectly intelligible and pressing question in its own right, it is made especially salient by various forms of skepticism, which argue that the senses cannot give us knowledge or even justified belief. Such a conclusion would have far reac...