Robert Van Rooij
Biographic Data
| ID | 977383 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Robert Van Rooij |
| GIVEN NAMES | Robert |
| FAMILY NAME | Van Rooij |
| SIGNATURE | VAN ROOIJ R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Amsterdam |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6819-6685 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 7 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
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Causal relevance of conditionals
In this paper we argue that the antecedent of a (non-analytic) conditional is causally relevant to the consequent, ... at least if standard background conditions hold. Natural counterexamples to the causal relevance analysis are argued to be cases where the standardly assumed background condition(s) do not hold
Conditionals As Representative Inferences
According to Adams (Inquiry 8:166–197, 1965), the acceptability of an indicative conditional goes with the conditional probability of the consequent given the antecedent. However, some conditionals seem to be inappropriate, although their corresponding conditional probability is high. These are cases with a missing link between antecedent and consequent. Other conditionals are appropriate even though the conditional probability is low. Finally, w…
Why Those Biscuits Are Relevant and on the Sideboard
In this paper, we explain why the antecedent of a biscuit conditional is relevant to its consequent by extending Douvenʼs evidential support theory of conditionals making use of utilities. By this extension, we can also explain why a biscuit conditional gives rise to the inference that the consequence is (most likely) true. Finally, we account for the intuition that (indicative) biscuit sentences are false when the antecedent is false and allow f…
Tolerant reasoning
The principle of tolerance characteristic of vague predicates is sometimes presented as a soft rule, namely as a default which we can use in ordinary reasoning, but which requires care in order to avoid paradoxes. We focus on two ways in which the tolerance principle can be modeled in that spirit, using special consequence relations. The first approach relates tolerant reasoning to nontransitive reasoning; the second relates tolerant reasoning to…
Natural kinds and dispositions
Objects have dispositions. Dispositions are normally analyzed by providing a meaning to disposition ascriptions like ‘This piece of salt is soluble’. Philosophers like Carnap, Goodman, Quine, Lewis and many others have proposed analyses of such disposition ascriptions. In this paper we will argue with Quine (‘Natural Kinds’, 1970) that the proper analysis of ascriptions of the form ‘ x is disposed to m (when C)’, where ‘ x ’ denotes an object, ‘ …
A Causal Semantics of Is Generics
The felicity, or acceptability, of IS generics, i.e. generic sentences with indefinite singulars, is considerably more restricted compared to BP generics, generics with bare plurals. The goal of this paper is to account for the limited felicity of IS generics compared to BP generics, on the one hand, while preserving the close similarity between the two types of generics, on the other. We do so by proposing a causal analysis of IS generics, and s…
Generics and typicality
Cimpian et al. (2010) observed that we accept generic statements of the form ‘Gsare f ’ on relatively weak evidence, but that if we are unfamiliar with group G and we learn ageneric statement about it, we still interpret it in a much stronger way: (almost) all Gs are f .This paper makes use of notions like ‘representativeness’ and ‘contingency’ from (associativelearning) psychology to provide a semantics of generics that explains why people accep…
Identity, Leibniz's Law and Non-transitive Reasoning
Philosophy of language and mind
Tolerant, Classical, Strict
In this paper we investigate a semantics for first-order logic originally proposed by R. van Rooij to account for the idea that vague predicates are tolerant, that is, for the principle that if x is P , then y should be P whenever y is similar enough to x . The semantics, which makes use of indifference relations to model similarity, rests on the interaction of three notions of truth: the classical notion, and two dual notions simultaneously defi…
Measurement and Interadjective Comparisons
This article demonstrates the relevance of measurement theory for the linguistic analysis of comparative statements. In particular, the article focuses on interadjective comparatives like ‘x is P-er than y is Q’ and comparatives involving multidimensional adjectives. It is argued that Bale's (2008) recent proposal to account for such comparatives is rather limited and just one way to account for interadjective comparison. In fact, it is shown tha…
Language, Games, and Evolution
Revealed preference and satisficing behavior
A much discussed topic in the theory of choice is how a preference order among options can be derived from the assumption that the notion of ‘choice’ is primitive. Assuming a choice function that selects elements from each finite set of options, Arrow (Economica 26:121–127, 1959) already showed how we can generate a weak ordering by putting constraints on the behavior of such a function such that it reflects utility maximization. Arrow proposed t…
Conjunctive interpretation of disjunction
In this extended commentary I discuss the problem of how to account for "conjunctive" readings of some sentences with embedded disjunctions for globalist analyses of conversational implicatures. Following Franke (2010, 2009), I suggest that earlier proposals failed, because they did not take into account the interactive reasoning of what else the speaker could have said, and how else the hearer could have interpreted the (alternative) sentence(s)…
Towards a uniform analysis of any
In this paper, Universal any and Negative Polarity Item any are uniformly analyzed as ‘counterfactual’ donkey sentences (in disguise). Their difference in meaning is reduced here to the distinction between strong and weak readings of donkey sentences. It is shown that this explains the universal and existential character of Universal- and NPI-any, respectively, and the positive and negative contexts in which they are licensed. Our uniform analysi…
Strengthening Conditional Presuppositions
In this paper it will be shown how conditional presuppositions can be strengthened to unconditional ones if we assume that the antecedent and consequent of a conditional presupposition are independent of one another. Our notion of independence is very weak, and based on Lewis' (1988) notion of orthogonality of questions. It will be argued that our way of strengthening these presuppositions does not give rise to some wrong predictions Geurts (1996…
Language structure
In this article we discuss the notion of a linguistic universal, and possible sources of such invariant properties of natural languages. In the first part, we explore the conceptual issues that arise. In the second part of the paper, we focus on the explanatory potential of horizontal evolution. We particularly focus on two case studies, concerning Zipf’s Law and universal properties of color terms, respectively. We show how computer simulations …
Pragmatic Meaning and Non-monotonic Reasoning
Free Choice Counterfactual Donkeys
We propose a straightforward analysis of counterfactual donkey sentences, by combining the Lewis/Stalnaker analysis of counterfactuals with standard dynamic semantics. The main idea is to define a similarity relation between world-assignment pairs such that two such pairs are unconnected if their assignments differ. We show that with the help of this ordering relation we can also account for a number of related problems involving disjunctions and…
A Modal Analysis of Presupposition and Modal Subordination
In this paper I will give a modal two-dimensional analysis of presupposition and modal subordination. I will think of presupposition as a non-veridical propositional attitude. This allows me to evaluate what is presupposed and what is asserted at different dimensions without getting into the binding problem. What is presupposed will be represented by an accessibility relation between possible worlds. The major part of the paper consists of a prop…
Exhaustive Interpretation of Complex Sentences
Formal Pragmatics. Semantics, Pragmatics, Presupposition, and Focus
Language structure
In this article we discuss the notion of a linguistic universal, and possible sources of such invariant properties of natural languages. In the first part, we explore the conceptual issues that arise. In the second part of the paper, we focus on the explanatory potential of horizontal evolution. We particularly focus on two case studies, concerning Zipf’s Law and universal properties of color terms, respectively. We show how computer simulations …
Tolerant reasoning
The principle of tolerance characteristic of vague predicates is sometimes presented as a soft rule, namely as a default which we can use in ordinary reasoning, but which requires care in order to avoid paradoxes. We focus on two ways in which the tolerance principle can be modeled in that spirit, using special consequence relations. The first approach relates tolerant reasoning to nontransitive reasoning; the second relates tolerant reasoning to…
Revealed preference and satisficing behavior
A much discussed topic in the theory of choice is how a preference order among options can be derived from the assumption that the notion of ‘choice’ is primitive. Assuming a choice function that selects elements from each finite set of options, Arrow (Economica 26:121–127, 1959) already showed how we can generate a weak ordering by putting constraints on the behavior of such a function such that it reflects utility maximization. Arrow proposed t…
Exhaustive Interpretation of Complex Sentences
Formal Pragmatics. Semantics, Pragmatics, Presupposition, and Focus
A Modal Analysis of Presupposition and Modal Subordination
In this paper I will give a modal two-dimensional analysis of presupposition and modal subordination. I will think of presupposition as a non-veridical propositional attitude. This allows me to evaluate what is presupposed and what is asserted at different dimensions without getting into the binding problem. What is presupposed will be represented by an accessibility relation between possible worlds. The major part of the paper consists of a prop…
Pragmatic Meaning and Non-monotonic Reasoning
Free Choice Counterfactual Donkeys
We propose a straightforward analysis of counterfactual donkey sentences, by combining the Lewis/Stalnaker analysis of counterfactuals with standard dynamic semantics. The main idea is to define a similarity relation between world-assignment pairs such that two such pairs are unconnected if their assignments differ. We show that with the help of this ordering relation we can also account for a number of related problems involving disjunctions and…
Strengthening Conditional Presuppositions
In this paper it will be shown how conditional presuppositions can be strengthened to unconditional ones if we assume that the antecedent and consequent of a conditional presupposition are independent of one another. Our notion of independence is very weak, and based on Lewis' (1988) notion of orthogonality of questions. It will be argued that our way of strengthening these presuppositions does not give rise to some wrong predictions Geurts (1996…
Language structure
In this article we discuss the notion of a linguistic universal, and possible sources of such invariant properties of natural languages. In the first part, we explore the conceptual issues that arise. In the second part of the paper, we focus on the explanatory potential of horizontal evolution. We particularly focus on two case studies, concerning Zipf’s Law and universal properties of color terms, respectively. We show how computer simulations …
Towards a uniform analysis of any
In this paper, Universal any and Negative Polarity Item any are uniformly analyzed as ‘counterfactual’ donkey sentences (in disguise). Their difference in meaning is reduced here to the distinction between strong and weak readings of donkey sentences. It is shown that this explains the universal and existential character of Universal- and NPI-any, respectively, and the positive and negative contexts in which they are licensed. Our uniform analysi…
Conjunctive interpretation of disjunction
In this extended commentary I discuss the problem of how to account for "conjunctive" readings of some sentences with embedded disjunctions for globalist analyses of conversational implicatures. Following Franke (2010, 2009), I suggest that earlier proposals failed, because they did not take into account the interactive reasoning of what else the speaker could have said, and how else the hearer could have interpreted the (alternative) sentence(s)…
Measurement and Interadjective Comparisons
This article demonstrates the relevance of measurement theory for the linguistic analysis of comparative statements. In particular, the article focuses on interadjective comparatives like ‘x is P-er than y is Q’ and comparatives involving multidimensional adjectives. It is argued that Bale's (2008) recent proposal to account for such comparatives is rather limited and just one way to account for interadjective comparison. In fact, it is shown tha…
Language, Games, and Evolution
Revealed preference and satisficing behavior
A much discussed topic in the theory of choice is how a preference order among options can be derived from the assumption that the notion of ‘choice’ is primitive. Assuming a choice function that selects elements from each finite set of options, Arrow (Economica 26:121–127, 1959) already showed how we can generate a weak ordering by putting constraints on the behavior of such a function such that it reflects utility maximization. Arrow proposed t…
Tolerant, Classical, Strict
In this paper we investigate a semantics for first-order logic originally proposed by R. van Rooij to account for the idea that vague predicates are tolerant, that is, for the principle that if x is P , then y should be P whenever y is similar enough to x . The semantics, which makes use of indifference relations to model similarity, rests on the interaction of three notions of truth: the classical notion, and two dual notions simultaneously defi…
Identity, Leibniz's Law and Non-transitive Reasoning
Philosophy of language and mind
Generics and typicality
Cimpian et al. (2010) observed that we accept generic statements of the form ‘Gsare f ’ on relatively weak evidence, but that if we are unfamiliar with group G and we learn ageneric statement about it, we still interpret it in a much stronger way: (almost) all Gs are f .This paper makes use of notions like ‘representativeness’ and ‘contingency’ from (associativelearning) psychology to provide a semantics of generics that explains why people accep…
A Causal Semantics of Is Generics
The felicity, or acceptability, of IS generics, i.e. generic sentences with indefinite singulars, is considerably more restricted compared to BP generics, generics with bare plurals. The goal of this paper is to account for the limited felicity of IS generics compared to BP generics, on the one hand, while preserving the close similarity between the two types of generics, on the other. We do so by proposing a causal analysis of IS generics, and s…
Conditionals As Representative Inferences
According to Adams (Inquiry 8:166–197, 1965), the acceptability of an indicative conditional goes with the conditional probability of the consequent given the antecedent. However, some conditionals seem to be inappropriate, although their corresponding conditional probability is high. These are cases with a missing link between antecedent and consequent. Other conditionals are appropriate even though the conditional probability is low. Finally, w…
Why Those Biscuits Are Relevant and on the Sideboard
In this paper, we explain why the antecedent of a biscuit conditional is relevant to its consequent by extending Douvenʼs evidential support theory of conditionals making use of utilities. By this extension, we can also explain why a biscuit conditional gives rise to the inference that the consequence is (most likely) true. Finally, we account for the intuition that (indicative) biscuit sentences are false when the antecedent is false and allow f…
Tolerant reasoning
The principle of tolerance characteristic of vague predicates is sometimes presented as a soft rule, namely as a default which we can use in ordinary reasoning, but which requires care in order to avoid paradoxes. We focus on two ways in which the tolerance principle can be modeled in that spirit, using special consequence relations. The first approach relates tolerant reasoning to nontransitive reasoning; the second relates tolerant reasoning to…
Natural kinds and dispositions
Objects have dispositions. Dispositions are normally analyzed by providing a meaning to disposition ascriptions like ‘This piece of salt is soluble’. Philosophers like Carnap, Goodman, Quine, Lewis and many others have proposed analyses of such disposition ascriptions. In this paper we will argue with Quine (‘Natural Kinds’, 1970) that the proper analysis of ascriptions of the form ‘ x is disposed to m (when C)’, where ‘ x ’ denotes an object, ‘ …
Causal relevance of conditionals
In this paper we argue that the antecedent of a (non-analytic) conditional is causally relevant to the consequent, ... at least if standard background conditions hold. Natural counterexamples to the causal relevance analysis are argued to be cases where the standardly assumed background condition(s) do not hold
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Philosophy (20 works) · Computer Science (18 works) · Epistemology (15 works) · Linguistics (15 works) · Mathematics (14 works) · Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge (13 works) · Psychology (11 works) · Pragmatics (8 works) · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation (8 works) · Artificial Intelligence (7 works)