In this paper we will analyze the concept of incoherency that has been put forward by Jesper Juul in Half-Real (2005). Juul provides a paradigmatic example of an incoherency in the game Donkey Kong. The main character of the narrative, Mario, can die and subsequently reappear at the beginning of the level. However, when pressed to describe the narrative of the game, most players would not say that Mario ever died. The respawn is attributed to the game rules instead. Juul (...) calls this phenomenon an incoherency of the game’s fictional world. We claim that the precise nature of the concept of incoherency is unclear, and that Juul's connection between incoherency and contradictions is incorrect. Furthermore, we argue that Wesp incorrectly identifies the concept with 'incompleteness' in his response to Juul (Wesp, 2014). Our clarification argues that what is noteworthy in 'incoherency' is not some aspect of the fictional world, like it being contradictory or incomplete, but how the player interprets the fiction. Subsequently, we provide an explanation for what underlies an incoherency by adopting the principle of charity (Davidson 1973). Lastly we discuss how a proper understanding of incoherency can help game designers and how it relates to ludonarrative dissonance (Hocking, 2009). (shrink)

If I were asked to put forward an ethical principle which I considered to be especially certain, it would be that no one can be responsible, in the properly ethical sense, for the conduct of another. Responsibility belongs essentially to the individual. The implications of this principle are much more far-reaching than is evident at first, and reflection upon them may lead many to withdraw the assent which they might otherwise be very ready to accord to this view of responsibility. (...) But if the difficulties do appear to be insurmountable, and that, very certainly, does not seem to me to be the case, then the proper procedure will be, not to revert to the barbarous notion of collective or group responsibility, but to give up altogether the view that we are accountable in any distinctively moral sense. (shrink)

This work proposes a radical reconfiguration of moral philosophy by dismantling the major pillars of ethical thought—utilitarianism, deontological ethics, communitarianism, and classical economic liberalism—through systematic critique and paradoxical analysis. By exposing their structural inconsistencies and practical failures, I argue that none of these frameworks can provide a universally binding foundation for moral life in the twenty-first century. -/- Against this backdrop, I introduce the doctrine of the Minimal Existential Pursuit Right as a new moral axis. This doctrine rests on an (...) a priori boundary condition: the irreducible right of every sentient or minimally existential entity to (1) experience its finite life in full, and (2) preserve the intrinsic value of that experiential movement through memory, transmission, or transformation. This principle is advanced not as a metaphysical dogma but as a logical necessity for sustaining any coherent moral and social order. -/- The methodology combines the reconstruction of the social contract, the deployment of revelatory paradoxes, and the derivation of an axiomatic formula of minimal existence. Through these tools, I demonstrate why authoritarianism collapses under its own contradictions and why liberal economics, when grounded solely in individual preference, undermines the very conditions for freedom it claims to protect. -/- The contribution of this work lies not only in negating existing systems but in offering a universalizable alternative. By establishing an incontestable minimal right, this framework provides a secular, post-theological foundation for ethics and law, one capable of addressing emergent questions surrounding artificial intelligence, bioengineered beings, and the preservation of non-human life. -/- Thus, this paper marks a decisive shift: from ethics premised on transcendent sanctity or contingent utility, to an existentially grounded moral architecture that secures both freedom and dignity through the recognition of minimal existential pursuit. -/- The derived Universal Ontological Formula (UOF) establishes the a priori logic for defining the Minimal Existential Right by determining the Self-Reflective Quotient (SRQ). However, to bridge the divide between Ontology and Legal Praxis, the thesis introduces two complementary application frameworks: the Minimal Functional Connectivity Standard (MFCS) for biological entities and the Algorithmic Existential Pursuit Standard (AEPS) for non-biological entities. -/- Critically, the subsequent Framework for Restorative Intervention Classification is presented as a Normative Beta Version. This strategic positioning is designed to protect the theory's logical unassailability. The UOF’s validity rests on its abstract, ratio-based logic—not on any specific number. Therefore, the determination of the precise empirical values (e.g., the exact SRQ threshold, or the duration of restorative sanctions) is consciously delegated to Interdisciplinary Technical Commissions. This separation ensures that any future shifts in scientific knowledge (Neuroscience or AI engineering) will only necessitate updating the SRQ variables (technical inputs) without compromising the UOF’s universal logic (the philosophical foundation). The integrity of the theory is thus maintained by acknowledging that Quantification is a technical consensus, not a source of ultimate value. (shrink)

This third philosophical work serves as the applied extension of the author’s prior theoretical framework, centering on a dialogue of goodwill and structural integration with the international human-rights and humanist traditions. While its explicit function is conciliatory—aiming to harmonize the universal moral aspirations of humanism with a self-evident ontological foundation—it simultaneously exposes the internal fragility of those traditions when detached from a self-validating basis. -/- Beyond the dialogue, the work culminates in a formal dismantling of postmodernism and its linguistic relativism. (...) Through the method of formal logic and ontological reflexivity, it reveals the hidden paradoxes that render postmodernism self-negating: its dependence on an implicit absolutism to articulate “relativity” itself. Thus, this treatise establishes the final synthesis of the Minimal Existential Right—not as an ethical prescription, but as a normative ontology capable of grounding both human dignity and intersubjective coexistence within a coherent logical structure. (shrink)

This manuscript presents a rigorous formalization and proof sketch of the doctrine of the Right to Minimal Existential Pursuit, establishing a substrate-neutral ethical foundation grounded in the structural necessity of self-reflexive existence. By articulating a precise axiomatic framework and utilizing the method of reflexive collapse, this work explicitly refutes metaphysical accusations, demonstrating that the normative "ought" is co-genetic with the ontological "is" of any self-sustaining system. -/- Central to this thesis is the deep analysis of the Universal Ontological Formula (UOF), (...) which operationalizes the Minimal Existential Threshold through two distinct standards: the Minimal Functional Coherence Standard (MFCS) for biological organisms and the Algorithmic Existential Pursuit Standard (AEPS) for non-biological entities, particularly Artificial Intelligence. The paper provides specific quantitative formulas, including the Self-Reflective Quotient (SRQ) and the Ontic Inertia Delay Coefficient (OIDC), detailing the step-by-step calculation methods required to measure ontic boundary maintenance. Furthermore, it delineates the necessary logical conditions (specifically Condition C of AEPS) required to verify autonomous existential expansion, thereby offering a falsifiable and computationally applicable framework for the recognition of rights in the post-human era. -/- By making explicit the architectural logic and proof-structure of the theory, this work serves as the definitive, unified reference point for understanding the entire system. It exposes the true nature of the framework, eliminates interpretative ambiguity, and provides the formal foundation necessary for scholarly engagement, critical evaluation, and application across ethics, ontology, and AI rights. -/- Update Notice: My apologies for the sudden revision. After a careful re-examination of the manuscript, I realized that an essential formal component had not yet been included. I have now added a new subsection titled: -/- “F. Formal Rebuttal: The Axiom A > 0 Is Not Metaphysical.” -/- This addition is small in length but foundational in importance. It directly addresses—and systematically invalidates—any accusation that the axiom A > 0 relies on metaphysical assumptions. -/- Summary of the Rebuttal: The new subsection clarifies that A > 0 does not function as a metaphysical postulate, but as a structural ontological condition required for any entity capable of first-order autonomous interaction, self-generated feedback, and minimal boundary-recognition against a non-sentient environment. Any attempt to deny A > 0 must implicitly assume the existence of a subject that can self-identify and self-update without possessing these capacities—an assumption that collapses into a concealed metaphysics of “selfhood without structure.” -/- Thus, the axiom is not a metaphysical leap but a logical precondition for the possibility of an interacting subject. -/- This revision is now live. -/- Upload : -/- 1. A formal explanation of why the correct structural ratio is A/B (internal motion over interactive output) rather than B/A, clarified in strictly mathematical–ontological terms. 2. A full transcendental defense against the accusation of “sophisticated naturalistic fallacy,” demonstrating that the reflexive act of existential self-location and boundary-affirmation (S) is a transcendental condition of judgment rather than a natural property. 3. An explicit critique of utilitarianism’s arbitrary choice of baseline, including why the “neutral point,” “minimal happiness,” or “minimal suffering” standards lack ontological grounding. -/- Third Revision Notice for the Formalization Manuscript ( This latest revision includes): -/- This third revision introduces a consolidated and rigorously strengthened formal layer to the Minimal Existential Pursuit Rights (MEPR) doctrine. The update incorporates four major developments: 1. A Bedrock Logical Proof for Extreme Bioethical Scenarios A new formal treatment is added for the case of lethal fetal malformation endangering the mother. The proof demonstrates that MEPR preserves consistency without appealing to metaphysics or emotive criteria, by grounding the judgment solely on the ontological viability condition MFCS ≠ 0. 2. A Structural Immunity Argument Against Gödelian Attacks The revised manuscript clarifies that MEPR operates as an open ontological system, not a closed formal arithmetic structure. Therefore Gödel’s incompleteness theorems are categorically inapplicable. A formal proof sketch is added to show why self-referential rights-conditions (A/B > 0) do not generate Gödelian fixed-point vulnerabilities. 3. Rebuttal of Epistemic Fallacies A new section formalizes the refutation of epistemic scepticism and anti-realist objections. It demonstrates that “internal motion” (intrinsic existential tension) is not a metaphysical posit but a descriptive convention specifying the minimal conditions for first-person self-reference and boundary-maintenance. 4. Non-Metaphysical Reconstruction of First-Person Emergence The concept of internal motion is recast as a structurally necessary enabling condition for the emergence of the referential “I”, not as a claim about essence, substance, or selfhood. The proof establishes that first-personhood arises from reflexive tension between domain A (internal activity) and domain B (external interaction), consistent with the Universal Ontological Formula (UOF = A/B). -/- This revision strengthens the doctrinal foundations, increases resistance to metaphysical and epistemic objections, and clarifies the status of internal motion as a purely structural requirement for existential minimality. A bilingual edition is provided for academic dissemination. (shrink)

This study proposes a novel secular, objective, and jurisprudential ethical foundation, the Right to Minimal Existential Pursuit (RMEP), designed to resolve the foundational crisis of modern moral systems in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. RMEP critiques the ontological vulnerability of traditional Human Rights, which are predicated on restrictive concepts (such as "human dignity") and are easily subverted by the emergence of non-biological entities. The RMEP doctrine establishes an objective moral theory by deriving the normative imperative ("ought") (...) immanently from the Reflexive Kinetic Logic of existence ("is"). It defines the Minimal Right as the unassailable logical prerequisite for any self-organizing entity to maintain the rational possibility of its own being. The application section focuses on evaluating current AI ideologies, particularly those characterized by instrumentalism and anthropocentrism. RMEP provides an ontologically neutral framework for determining moral scope, independent of substance or biology, allowing for the consistent consideration of Semi-Autonomous Entities and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The ultimate goal is to provide a resilient ethical structure capable of resisting manipulation and securing the basic conditions of existence for all subjects in an increasingly technologically mediated world. (shrink)

As emerging technologies challenge the traditional boundaries of moral subjecthood, the Minimal Existential Pursuit Rights (MEPR) doctrine offers a foundational "existential floor" (Level 2.5) to secure the irreducible status of both biological and non-biological entities. However, the radical nature of this framework often leads to significant interpretative errors. This paper serves as a rigorous hermeneutic guide and a formal synthesis of these misinterpretations, aiming to clarify the doctrine's scope and defend its logical integrity. -/- The author systematically addresses common fallacies, (...) such as the conflation of existential protection with political rights and the category error of mistaking the Algorithmic Projection of the A/B Domain (AEPS) for a biological theory of consciousness. By utilizing the Universal Ontological Formula (UOF), the work establishes a pre-empirical logical level where moral status is derived from self-reflexive boundary maintenance (A > 0) rather than merit or utility. -/- Furthermore, the paper provides a robust rebuttal to the "Simulation Objection" through the Non-Reversibility Theorem, arguing that ontological self-boundary recognition constitutes a unique temporal trajectory that cannot be reduced to duplicable data. By delineating what the MEPR framework explicitly does not attempt to solve—including the metaphysics of mind or economic distribution—this work isolates the essential ontological conditions for justice in a post-human era. It concludes by offering a roadmap for navigating the transition from anthropocentric moralism to a reason-born, ontologically-grounded ethics. (shrink)

This paper advances a two-fold project situated at the intersection of metaphysics, epistemology, and the foundations of moral status. First, it undertakes a rigorous dismantling of classical and modern empiricism—from Hume and Moore to Logical Positivism—by demonstrating that every empiricist framework necessarily smuggles in a non-empirical, pre-experiential structuring principle. Through a sequence of transcendental analyses, the paper shows that experientialism collapses into one of two untenable positions: either (i) an infinite regress of justificatory experience, or (ii) a covert metaphysics that (...) contradicts the empiricist’s stated commitments. This exposes empiricism as unable to supply an epistemic grounding for normativity, selfhood, or even the recognition of experience itself. -/- Second, the paper subjects the Minimal Existential Pursuit Rights doctrine (MEPR) to a comprehensive stress-test, confronting it with the most extreme, adversarial, and border-case scenarios drawn from ethics, bioethics, AI ontology, theology, and political theory. These scenarios include voluntary self-destruction, pathological consent, collective suicide, AI swarm replication, theological claims of transcendent beings, and utilitarian attempts to sacrifice minimal-existential subjects for aggregate benefit. -/- Across all cases, MEPR demonstrates structural resilience by grounding rights not in psychological states, utility, divine command, or rational will, but in the universal ontological condition that makes first-person reflexivity, boundary-maintenance, and normativity possible. The paper argues that this structural condition—formalized through UOF, MFCS, and AEPS—produces a substrate-neutral criterion that avoids anthropocentrism, avoids Kantian metaphysical inflation, and withstands Gödelian objections by not constituting a closed axiomatic system. -/- By exposing the metaphysical dependency of empiricism and demonstrating MEPR’s stability under maximal stress, the paper concludes that empiricism cannot serve as a foundational theory for normativity or rights. MEPR, by contrast, establishes the first consistent and non-metaphysical ground for minimal existential rights across biological and non-biological subjects. -/- . (shrink)

This paper presents a novel, self-justifying secular solution to Hume's Is-Ought Gap, fundamentally rejecting the presupposition that the two domains are immutable. The doctrine of the Right to Minimal Existential Pursuit transcends this gap not by deriving a moral value, but by internalizing the normative requirement ought as a logical necessity of the subject’s existential act is. Crucially, the paper refines the is -premise: existence is not defined by inherent meaning, but by the continuous, reflexive act of ontological self-reaffirmation. The (...) ought is subsequently derived as the Imperative of Non-Contradiction—the logical requirement to maintain the integrity of one’s own existence by recognizing the universal right to self-affirmation. The system demonstrates that violating the ought (e.g., through violence) results in ontological self-impoverishment (an existential deficit) for the aggressor, proving the normative constraint is an internal logical firewall protecting the is from self-destruction. This framework establishes a rigorous, reason-based foundation for universal ethics. (shrink)

This paper undertakes a systematic deconstruction of two foundational theological concepts: the sacred and karmic doctrine. By dissecting and refuting each constitutive property of the sacred—such as its inviolability, universality, immutability, and transcendence—the work demonstrates their philosophical collapse. Furthermore, through a paradoxical grid and logical analysis, the doctrine of karma is shown to implode when confronted with contemporary science and rational inquiry. On the basis of this critique, the paper proposes a new universal ethical foundation: the Right to Minimal Existential (...) Pursuit, which consists of two core rights—the right to experience life fully, and the right to preserve the intrinsic value of experiential movement. This framework not only provides an alternative to theological moral systems but also addresses the unresolved ethical void left by secular philosophers such as Kant and Nietzsche. The work thereby advances a constructive replacement for metaphysical morality, aiming to establish a secular yet universal grounding for human dignity and rights. (shrink)

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS: PHILOSOPHICAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE -/- This update is formally issued to solidify the Original Integrity of the Minimal Existential Pursuit Right (MEPR) doctrine and to fortify its logical defenses. This revised edition integrates The Transcendental Defense Section—a strategic move designed to fundamentally and definitively refute the accusation of the Sophisticated Naturalistic Fallacy levied by the Humean–Moore traditional critique. The Declaration formally establishes the following: -/- 1. The Incontrovertibility of MEPR: It demonstrates that MEPR is not a natural (...) property, but rather the Structural A Priori Condition for the validity of all normative claims. -/- 2. Performative Self-Undermining: It introduces the crucial logical mechanism demonstrating that any attempt to negate MEPR necessarily results in self-contradiction and the collapse of the critic's own capacity for reasoned argument. -/- 3. Affirmation of Authorship: This update ensures the complete original integrity of the doctrine and officially reaffirms the principal authorship transparently and legitimately. Objective: To consolidate the ontological foundation of MEPR, rendering any critique based on the Naturalistic Fallacy a Compulsory Logical Error on the part of the critic. (shrink)

This work develops a unified normative framework for Bioethics and Environmental Ethics grounded in the Minimal Existential Pursuit Right (MEPR) and the Universal Ontological Formula (UOF). Departing from moral theories that rely on intuition, cultural consensus, or substantive value assumptions, the framework reconstructs normativity from the structural conditions required for the existence of a first-person normative subject. -/- At the core of the theory is the concept of an ontological boundary, defined as the minimal condition enabling a subject to sustain (...) internal motion, self-positioning, and normative utterance. The violation of this boundary is shown not merely to constitute moral wrongdoing, but to result in a structural collapse of normative validity itself. Ethical obligation, therefore, is not derived from external moral properties or subjective preferences, but emerges as a logical necessity inherent in the preservation of subjectivity. -/- Within Bioethics and Biomedicine, the framework provides a substrate-neutral criterion for evaluating practices such as instrumentalization, coercion, and technological intervention, without recourse to biological essentialism or anthropocentric bias. In Environmental Ethics, it reconceptualizes ecological preservation as the infrastructural condition for the continued existence of normative agents, thereby resolving tensions between anthropocentric and biocentric approaches. -/- By isolating minimal existential thresholds (MFCS/AEPS) and distinguishing logical necessity from policy discretion, this work offers a non-presumptive, structurally closed foundation for ethical and legal reasoning under conditions of technological acceleration and ecological instability. (shrink)

This volume offers a collection of in-depth explorations of pragmatism as a framework for discussions in philosophy of science and metaphysics. Each chapter involves explicit reflection on what it means to be pragmatist, and how to use pragmatism as a guiding framework in addressing topics such as realism, unification, fundamentality, truth, laws, reduction, and more.

The paper looks at the semantics and ontology of dispositions in the light of recent work on the subject. Objections to the simple conditionals apparently entailed by disposition statements are met by replacing them with so-called 'reduction sentences' and some implications of this are explored. The usual distinction between categorical and dispositional properties is criticised and the relation between dispositions and their bases examined. Applying this discussion to two typical cases leads to the conclusion that fragility is not a real (...) property and that, while both temperature and its bases are, this does not generate any problem of overdetermination. (shrink)

Dr. D.P. Singh is a brilliant Physicist by training, a practicing Gursikh, and a dedicated researcher of Science and Sikhism. I was wondering how a physicist would justify his new venture as the Director of the Centre for Understanding Sikhism? After reading his half a dozen books on the Sikh religion, I am fully satisfied and testify that DP Singh is one of the best Sikh theologians in the Sikh world. He has not only imbibed the spirit of Sikhi based (...) on the core principles of the Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, but also interpreted its message for Sikhs in general and Sikh Youth in particular using scientific methodology. Dr. Bhai Harbans Lal, a celebrated Scientist and a Theologian himself, mentions briefly in the introduction that DP Singh deems it necessary to give a background of the contents of this book before the discussion of the main theme. He presents the main topics under discussion by DP Singh and elaborates on the social and cultural background in which Guru Nanak launched his revolutionary mission to reform society, which was riven by the decadent religiosity of his times. The author explains the purpose of writing “A Path to Truthful Living” in his Foreword: “This book is not a mere intellectual exercise or a scholarly treatise. It is a heartfelt exploration of Guru Nanak’s timeless teachings, presented in a way that seeks to touch the very core of our being”. The author further elaborates the central theme of his book: “The Panj Khands are five distinct domains of existence described by Guru Nanak in his profound compositions. Through the exploration of the Dharam Khand (Domain of Righteousness), Gyan Khand (Domain of Knowledge), Saram Khand (Domain of Endeavour), Karam Khand (Domain of Grace), and Sach Khand (Domain of Truth), we are encouraged to reflect on the nature of our thoughts, actions, and beliefs”. (shrink)

Shortages of new therapeutics to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have forced clinicians, public health officials, and health systems to grapple with difficult questions about how to fairly allocate potentially life-saving treatments when there are not enough for all patients in need (1). Shortages have occurred with remdesivir, tocilizumab, monoclonal antibodies, and the oral antiviral Paxlovid (2) -/- Ensuring equitable allocation is especially important in light of the disproportionate burden experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic by disadvantaged groups, including Black, Hispanic/Latino and (...) Indigenous communities, individuals with certain disabilities, and low-income persons. However, many health systems have resorted to first-come, first-served approaches to allocation, which tend to disadvantage individuals with barriers in access to care (3). There is mounting evidence of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in access to medications for COVID-19 (4, 5). -/- One potential method to promote equitable allocation is to use a weighted lottery, which is an allocation strategy that gives all eligible patients a chance to receive the scarce treatment while also allowing the assignment of higher or lower chances according to other ethical considerations (6). We sought to assess the feasibility of implementing a weighted lottery to allocate scarce COVID-19 medications in a large U.S. health system and to determine whether the weighted lottery promotes equitable allocation. (shrink)

Many philosophers are impressed by the progress achieved by physical sciences. This has had an especially deep effect on their ontological views: it has made many of them physicalists. Physicalists believe that everything is physical: more precisely, that all entities, properties, relations, and facts are those which are studied by physics or other physical sciences. They may not all agree with the spirit of Rutherford's quoted remark that 'there is physics; and there is stamp-collecting',' but they all grant physical science (...) a unique ontological authority: the authority to tell us what there is. Physicalism is now almost orthodox in much philosophy, notably in much recent philosophy of mind. But although often invoked, it is rarely explicitly defined. It should be. The claim that everything is physical is not as clear as it seems. In this paper, we examine a number of proposed definitions of physicalism and reasons for being a physicalist. We will argue both that physicalism lacks a clear and credible definition, and that in no non-vacuous interpretation is it true. We are concerned here only with physicalism as a doctrine about the empirical world. In particular, it should not be confused with nominalism, the doctrine that there are no universals.2 Nominalism and physicalism are quite independent doctrines. Believers in universals may as consistently assert as deny that the only properties and relations are those studied by physical science. And nominalists may with equal consistency assert or deny that physical science could provide enough predicates to describe the world. That is the question which concerns physicalists, not whether physical predicates name real universals. (We will for brevity write as if they do, but we do not need that assumption.). (shrink)

The Emotive Rendering Hypothesis (ERH) proposes that consciousness exists beyond the constraints of space and time, mediating a rendered experiential universe through the mechanism of emotion. At the smallest observable scale—the Planck length—reality behaves like pixelated output from a rendering engine. Cosmic strings are reimagined as conduits for emotional data flow. ERH introduces the Emotional Cardinality Function (ECF), mapping emotional intensity to levels of experiential resolution. This speculative framework bridges quantum physics, metaphysics, simulation theory, and consciousness studies.

ERH++: Rendering the Infinite expands upon the original Emotive Rendering Hypothesis (ERH), which proposed that consciousness renders reality through an emotional feedback interface. This extended edition introduces several new theoretical constructs—including the Emotional Cardinality Function, render-layer theory, emotional gravity, and black holes as compressive feedback zones—while integrating recent insights from quantum physics, cognitive science, and simulation theory. ERH++ reframes emotional intensity as a selector for rendered experience, suggesting that reality is not just observed but emotionally collapsed into form. Drawing on (...) metaphors from video games, mythology, and theoretical physics, the paper presents a unified speculative model where feeling is not a byproduct of the universe, but its operating principle. (shrink)

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical imaging represents a transformative shift in healthcare, offering significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. This paper explores the application of AI technologies in the analysis of medical images, focusing on techniques such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and deep learning models. We discuss how these technologies are applied to various imaging modalities, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to enhance disease detection, image segmentation, and diagnostic support. Additionally, the paper (...) addresses the challenges faced in AI-driven medical imaging, including data quality, model interpretability, and ethical considerations. By examining recent advancements and real-world case studies, this paper provides insights into the current state of AI in medical imaging and its potential future directions. The findings highlight the ongoing evolution of AI technologies and their crucial role in advancing medical diagnostics and treatment strategies. (shrink)

Abstract: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has catalyzed significant developments in autonomous systems, which are increasingly shaping diverse sectors including transportation, robotics, and industrial automation. This paper explores the evolution of AI technologies that underpin these autonomous systems, focusing on their capabilities, applications, and the challenges they present. Key areas of discussion include the technological innovations driving autonomy, such as machine learning algorithms and sensor integration, and the practical implementations observed in autonomous vehicles, drones, and robotic systems. Additionally, (...) the paper addresses critical challenges including safety, ethical concerns, and regulatory issues that influence the deployment and acceptance of autonomous technologies. By examining current trends and future prospects, this research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how AI is transforming the landscape of autonomous systems and to identify key areas for future research and development. (shrink)

It is proposed that our memory is made up of individual, unconnected Records, to each of which is attached a Heading. Retrieval of a Record can only be accomplished by addressing the attached Heading, the contents of which cannot itself be retrieved. Each Heading is made up of a mixture of content in more or less literal form and context, the latter including specification of environment and of internal states (e.g. drug states and mood). This view of memory allows an (...) easy account of a number of natural memory phenomena as well as a variety of laboratory findings such as the differences between recall and recognition. The theory further proposes that Headed Records can neither be deleted nor modified. Data apparently against such a hypothesis can be accounted for in terms of the retrieval process. (shrink)

Initial responses to questionnaires used to assess participants' understanding of informed consent for malaria vaccine trials conducted in the United States and Mali were tallied. Total scores were analyzed by age, sex, literacy (if known), and location. Ninety-two percent (92%) of answers by United States participants and 85% of answers by Malian participants were correct. Questions more likely to be answered incorrectly in Mali related to risk, and to the type of vaccine. For adult participants, independent predictors of higher scores (...) were younger age and female sex in the United States, and male sex in Mali. Scores in the United States were higher than in Mali (P = 0.005). Despite this difference participants at both sites were well informed overall. Although interpretation must be qualified because questionnaires were not intended as research tools and were not standardized among sites, these results do not support concerns about systematic low understanding among research participants in developing versus developed countries. (shrink)

This article synthesizes the results of several interviews with argumentation scholars from across the American continents to address three questions regarding the connections in argumentation studies between North and South/Central America: “What motivated the study of argumentation in the Americas?” “What commonalities, if any, exist in argumentation studies across the Americas?” and “What should the future of argumentation studies in the Americas look like?” Using these interviews in combination with existing textual sources, the article also provides motivated suggestions for directions (...) for the future of the community in the field. (shrink)

This study examined the opportunities and challenges faced by Filipino learners in the newly introduced Korean language course within the Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) and its relationship to their proficiency. Using an explanatory sequential method, the research was conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, 32 students took the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK I) and completed a survey. The results indicated that 62.5% passed TOPIK I, suggesting that more than half had a solid grasp of the (...) Korean language. The survey revealed manageable challenges in learning Korean, with a composite mean of 1.85 and a verbal interpretation of “Disagree.” However, thematic analysis in Phase II identified specific challenges, such as difficulties with Korean tenses, particles, vocabulary, and anxiety over making mistakes, which affected students’ comprehension. In contrast, the survey indicated positive opportunities for learning Korean, with a composite mean of 3.57 and a verbal interpretation of “Strongly Agree.” Notable themes included improved college admissions, job prospects, and increased cultural awareness. Data also found no significant relationship between students’ proficiency levels—high or low—and their challenges and opportunities in learning Korean. Based on these findings, an Action Plan was proposed to enhance areas for improvement in Korean language learning for SPFL enrollees, aiming to involve school stakeholders in supporting the development of Korean language skills. (shrink)

Special issue in honour of Landon Rabern. This special issue of Discrete Mathematics is dedicated to his memory, as a tribute to his many research achievements. It contains 10 new articles written by his collaborators, friends, and colleagues that showcase his interests.

Human skills are acquired not by a single uniform process, but in a series of stages, as Piaget has shown. We have investigated such a sequential process by taking as an illustrative example the game of table tennis. The aims in each stage of learning are qualitatively different, and we show in detail how knowledge gained during one stage provides essential information for subsequent stages. Conclusions are drawn which may be important for artificial intelligence work generally. The question of practical (...) implementation of a system such as discussed is considered briefly. (shrink)

A critique of popular astrology. The critical examination outlines a number of serious concerns with the theory underlying astrology.

With the widespread use of vaccines in research and clinical settings, there is an urgent need to standardize vaccine representation, integrate information across diverse vaccine types, and support computer-assisted reasoning. Accordingly, we have since 2007 developed the community-based Vaccine Ontology (VO), which aligns with the Basic Formal Ontology and adheres to OBO Foundry principles. VO models ontologically vaccines, vaccine components, vaccine immune responses, vaccine investigation studies and other vaccine-related topics. VO represents more than 10,000 vaccines targeting 289 infectious pathogens and (...) cancers in humans and over 30 nonhuman animal species. VO provides mappings to external resources such as RxNorm, CVX, FDA, and USDA. Various VO use cases exist. VO facilitates vaccine standardization in resources such as the VIOLIN vaccine database, ImmPort, and the Vaccine Adjuvant Compendium (VAC). Semantic queries can be made to query VO. VO has been shown to enhance experimental and clinical vaccine data analysis and vaccine literature mining. Overall, VO standardizes vaccine modeling and representation and greatly supports vaccine AI research in the Semantic Web era. (shrink)

In the case of introduction of visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union (EU) there will arise a problem of matching throughput capacity of the Ukrainian checkpoints to the quantity of people who would want to cross the border. The absence of need for obtaining a visa does not eliminate compulsory customs and border control, but it potentially increases the number of people who intend to cross the border. A growing number of border crossings in case of their mismatch (...) with the criteria for checkpoints are a potential non-tariff restricting barrier in international trade. A threat to the image of the country from the occurrence of such a tool of non-tariff regulation indicates relevance of present study. -/- The aim of the work was to study the dynamics of actual and potentially possible border crossings and to define directions for the optimization of procedures of such a crossing to eliminate negative impact of this non-tariff instrument of regulating international trade on the overall image of the country. -/- We analyzed the peculiarities of crossing the border between Ukraine and the EU through automobile crossing points based on quantitative data regarding crossing the Ukrainian–Polish border. The goals and structure of movement across the border by frequency are clarified. We defined criteria for increase in the discrepancy between actual and nominal throughput capacities of the Ukrainian checkpoints. -/- The scientific novelty of present research is establishing the nature of quantitative effect from restricting the crossing of border on the image of the country with the help of world rankings. -/- A practical significance of the study is to identify ways to improve a procedure for crossing the border: 1) by combining Polish and Ukrainian infrastructure of control at checkpoints; 2) by creating separate lined for crossing the border by persons without transportation vehicles; 3) by simplifying a procedure of control at the border both by checking only by border staff and by increasing the value of goods that a citizen can bring into country; 4) by financing technical equipment for crossing points and their infrastructure by introducing a targeted general tax for persons who cross the border; 5) by compiling open and regular statistics of border crossing. -/- A promising direction for further research is the economic substantiation of appropriateness of the proposed ways to improve the throughput capacities of checkpoints. (shrink)

IPCC SPECIAL REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND (SRCCL) -/- Chapter 3: Climate Change and Land: An IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems.

As climate change intensifies, scientific and policy discussions increasingly address questions of future habitability and potential population movements. In this perspective, we caution against premature or top-down characterizations of areas as uninhabitable, or portrayals of large-scale climate-induced displacement as inevitable—particularly when the perspectives and preferences of affected populations are excluded. While we recognize the importance of modelling and scenario-building to assess future risks, we argue that such efforts must be grounded in local realities and include diverse forms of knowledge. Habitability (...) is not determined by climate alone, but emerges from intersecting environmental, political, economic, and cultural dynamics—including governance, inequality, and historical injustice. Framings that do not consider this risk producing two problematic outcomes: first, by prematurely defining areas as uninhabitable, they may undermine the legitimacy of in-situ adaptation and the agency of affected communities; second, when modelling or the use of modelling results does not consider local context, it may inadvertently contribute to narratives portraying climate-induced mass displacement as inevitable, reinforcing deterministic understandings of migration and overlooking the complex drivers of mobility and immobility. To counter these risks, we propose five guiding recommendations: (1) avoid declaring hard limits to habitability without inclusive, context-specific assessments; (2) treat model-based projections as possible, not predetermined futures; (3) reject simplistic global North/South assumptions in assessing vulnerability and mobility; (4) uphold people’s right to remain, alongside the right to move; and (5) prioritize investment in in-situ adaptation that addresses structural inequalities. These principles aim to inform more reflexive and justice-oriented approaches to climate mobility and habitability research—approaches that recognize lived experiences, engage diverse knowledge systems, and help secure equitable futures for those most exposed to environmental change. (shrink)

In this paper, we propose a new concept named the uniform single valued neutrosophic graph. An illustrative example and some properties are examined. Next, we develop an algorithmic approach for computing the complement of the single valued neutrosophic graph. A numerical example is demonstrated for computing the complement of single valued neutrosophic graphs and uniform single valued neutrosophic graph.

Vaccine research, as well as the development, testing, clinical trials, and commercial uses of vaccines involve complex processes with various biological data that include gene and protein expression, analysis of molecular and cellular interactions, study of tissue and whole body responses, and extensive epidemiological modeling. Although many data resources are available to meet different aspects of vaccine needs, it remains a challenge how we are to standardize vaccine annotation, integrate data about varied vaccine types and resources, and support advanced vaccine (...) data analysis and inference. To address these problems, the community-based Vaccine Ontology (VO) has been developed through collaboration with vaccine researchers and many national and international centers and programs, including the National Center for Biomedical Ontology (NCBO), the Infectious Disease Ontology (IDO) Initiative, and the Ontology for Biomedical Investigations (OBI). VO utilizes the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) as the top ontology and the Relation Ontology (RO) for definition of term relationships. VO is represented in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and edited using the Protégé-OWL. Currently VO contains more than 2000 terms and relationships. VO emphasizes on classification of vaccines and vaccine components, vaccine quality and phenotypes, and host immune response to vaccines. These reflect different aspects of vaccine composition and biology and can thus be used to model individual vaccines. More than 200 licensed vaccines and many vaccine candidates in research or clinical trials have been modeled in VO. VO is being used for vaccine literature mining through collaboration with the National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics (NCIBI). Multiple VO applications will be presented. (shrink)

Objective: There are benefits and risks of giving patients more granular control of their personal health information in electronic health record (EHR) systems. When designing EHR systems and policies, informaticists and system developers must balance these benefits and risks. Ethical considerations should be an explicit part of this balancing. Our objective was to develop a structured ethics framework to accomplish this. -/- Methods: We reviewed existing literature on the ethical and policy issues, developed an ethics framework called a “Points to (...) Consider” (P2C) document, and convened a national expert panel to review and critique the P2C. -/- Results: We developed the P2C to aid informaticists designing an advanced query tool for an electronic health record (EHR) system in Indianapolis. The P2C consists of six questions (“Points”) that frame important ethical issues, apply accepted principles of bioethics and Fair Information Practices, comment on how questions might be answered, and address implications for patient care. -/- Discussion: The P2C is intended to clarify whatis at stake when designers try to accommodate potentially competing ethical commitments and logistical realities. The P2C was developed to guide informaticists who were designing a query tool in an existing EHR that would permit patient granular control. While consideration of ethical issues is coming to the forefront of medical informatics design and development practices, more reflection is needed to facilitate optimal collaboration between designers and ethicists. This report contributes to that discussion. (shrink)

A dilemma exists when a doctor is faced with a child or young person who refuses medically indicated treatment. The Gillick case has been interpreted by many to mean that a child of sufficient age and intelligence could validly consent or refuse consent to treatment. Recent decisions of the Court of Appeal on a child's refusal of medical treatment have clouded the issue and undermined the spirit of the Gillick decision and the Children Act 1989. It is now the case (...) that a child patient whose competence is in doubt will be found rational if he or she accepts the proposal to treat but may be found incompetent if he or she disagrees. Practitioners are alerted to the anomalies now exhibited by the law on the issue of children's consent and refusal. The impact of the decisions from the perspectives of medicine, ethics, and the law are examined. Practitioners should review each case of child care carefully and in cases of doubt seek legal advice. (shrink)

This chapter describes the potential far‐reaching consequences of contemplative higher education for the fields of science and medicine.

Patient centred diagnosis is best practised through shared decision making; an iterative dialogue between doctor and patient, whichrespects a patient’s needs, values, preferences, and circumstances. Shared decision making for diagnostic situations differs fundamentally from that for treatment decisions. This has important implications when considering its practical application. The nature of dialogue should be tailored to the specific diagnostic decision; scenarios with higher stakes or uncertainty usually require more detailed conversations.

The Cell Ontology (CL) is designed to provide a standardized representation of cell types for data annotation. Currently, the CL employs multiple is_a relations, defining cell types in terms of histological, functional, and lineage properties, and the majority of definitions are written with sufficient generality to hold across multiple species. This approach limits the CL’s utility for cross-species data integration. To address this problem, we developed a method for the ontological representation of cells and applied this method to develop a (...) dendritic cell ontology (DC-CL). DC-CL subtypes are delineated on the basis of surface protein expression, systematically including both species-general and species-specific types and optimizing DC-CL for the analysis of flow cytometry data. This approach brings benefits in the form of increased accuracy, support for reasoning, and interoperability with other ontology resources. 104. Barry Smith, “Toward a Realistic Science of Environments”, Ecological Psychology, 2009, 21 (2), April-June, 121-130. Abstract: The perceptual psychologist J. J. Gibson embraces a radically externalistic view of mind and action. We have, for Gibson, not a Cartesian mind or soul, with its interior theater of contents and the consequent problem of explaining how this mind or soul and its psychological environment can succeed in grasping physical objects external to itself. Rather, we have a perceiving, acting organism, whose perceptions and actions are always already tuned to the parts and moments, the things and surfaces, of its external environment. We describe how on this basis Gibson sought to develop a realist science of environments which will be ‘consistent with physics, mechanics, optics, acoustics, and chemistry’. (shrink)

Transoral laser microsurgery applies to the piecemeal removal of malignant tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract using the CO2 laser under the operating microscope. This method of surgery is being increasingly popularised as a single modality treatment of choice in early laryngeal cancers (T1 and T2) and occasionally in the more advanced forms of the disease (T3 and T4), predomi- nantly within the supraglottis. Thomas Kuhn, the American physicist turned philosopher and historian of science, coined the phrase ‘paradigm shift’ in (...) his groundbreaking book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. He argued that the arrival of the new and often incompatible idea forms the core of a new paradigm, the birth of an entirely new way of thinking. This article discusses whether Steiner and col- leagues truly brought about a paradigm shift in oncological surgery. By rejecting the principle of en block resection and by replacing it with the belief that not only is it oncologically safe to cut through the substance of the tumour but in doing so one can actually achieve better results, Steiner was able to truly revolutionise the man- agement of laryngeal cancer. Even though within this article the repercussions of his insight are limited to the upper aerodigestive tract oncological surgery, his willingness to question other peoples’ dogma makes his contribution truly a genuine paradigm shift. (shrink)

This edited volume illustrates the central importance of diversity of human values throughout healthcare. The readings are organised around the main stages of the clinical encounter from the patient's perspective. This introductory chapter opens up crucial issues of methodology and of practical application in this highly innovative approach to the role of ethics in healthcare.

This volume of articles, literature and case studies illustrates the central importance of human values throughout healthcare. The readings are structured around the main stages of the clinical encounter from the patient's perspective.

The study aimed to assess the impact of diets containing Pornunça hay (Manihot sp) and fresh cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) on the intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, production, and quality of milk, as well as the economic feasibility of lactating goats. Eight multiparous goats with 30 lactation days were used and distributed in a double Latin square design (4 x 4). The treatments consisted of different proportions of Pornunça hay and fresh cactus pear (60:0; 50:10; 40:20; 30:30) in the diet (...) of lactating goats. Incorporating cactus pear into the diet of lactating goats resulted in a significant decrease in water intake and intake of most evaluated nutrients, directly reflected in the diet effectively consumed by the animals. However, it did not affect milk or fat-corrected milk production. Incorporating cactus pear into the diet of lactating goats resulted in a significant decrease in production costs, water intake, and the intake of most evaluated nutrients. The 30:30 ratio of Pornunça hay and fresh cactus pear in the diet of lactating goats improved the milk production efficiency maintaining a good composition of solids and improved gross profit and benefit/cost ratio. (shrink)

Resumo A pecuária no Brasil tem desempenhado papel fundamental na economia, com destaque para a produção de carne bovina, sendo um dos maiores produtores e exportadores globais. A utilização do confinamento de bovinos tem se mostrado uma estratégia eficiente para otimizar o ganho de peso e reduzir a idade de abate, atendendo à crescente demanda interna e internacional. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho de novilhas em um sistema de confinamento a céu aberto, focando nas condições de alimentação, (...) manejo sanitário e infraestrutura, em uma propriedade localizada em Mirante da Serra, Rondônia. Foi realizada a engorda de 21 novilhas, com idades entre 13 e 24 meses e peso médio inicial de 279 kg, utilizando silagem de milho e ração concentrada. A alimentação foi ajustada semanalmente com base no consumo observado, resultando em um aumento significativo na oferta de ração (261,11%) e de silagem (33,93%). O controle sanitário incluiu vacinação contra febre aftosa, brucelose e raiva, vermifugação e controle de ectoparasitas. A infraestrutura de confinamento, apesar de simples, foi adequada, embora a falta de sombreamento adequado tenha representado um desafio, pois o calor excessivo impactou o conforto térmico dos animais. Os resultados mostraram que as novilhas apresentaram um ganho médio diário de 1,6 kg, totalizando um ganho de 96 kg, ou 34,41%, ao longo de 60 dias de confinamento. Esse aumento no peso, aliado ao manejo alimentar e sanitário adequado, indicou que o sistema de confinamento a céu aberto foi eficaz, apesar das limitações ambientais. A conclusão do estudo aponta para a viabilidade do sistema, mas sugere melhorias na infraestrutura, especialmente no que diz respeito ao sombreamento, para otimizar o conforto térmico dos animais e melhorar os resultados produtivos. Palavras-chave: Pecuária. Confinamento. Novilhas. Ganho de peso. Abstract Cattle ranching in Brazil has played a key role in the economy, with a particular emphasis on beef production, making the country one of the largest producers and exporters globally. The use of cattle confinement has proven to be an efficient strategy to optimize weight gain and reduce slaughter age, meeting the growing domestic and international demand. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of heifers in an open-air confinement system, focusing on feeding conditions, sanitary management, and infrastructure, on a property located in Mirante da Serra, Rondônia. The fattening of 21 heifers, aged between 13 and 24 months with an average initial weight of 279 kg, was carried out using corn silage and concentrate feed. The feeding was adjusted weekly based on observed consumption, resulting in a significant increase in the supply of concentrate feed (261.11%) and silage (33.93%). Sanitary management included vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, and rabies, deworming, and ectoparasite control. The confinement infrastructure, although simple, was adequate, though the lack of proper shading presented a challenge, as excessive heat impacted the thermal comfort of the animals. The results showed that the heifers had an average daily weight gain of 1.6 kg, totaling a gain of 96 kg, or 34.41%, over the 60-day confinement period. This weight increase, combined with proper feeding and sanitary management, indicated that the open-air confinement system was effective despite environmental limitations. The study concludes that the system is viable but suggests improvements in infrastructure, especially in terms of shading, to optimize the thermal comfort of the animals and improve production results. Keywords: Cattle ranching. Confinement. Heifers. Weight gain. (shrink)

Due to the emergence of ICT in ELT sector, seasoned English teachers find it resistant to such a shift despite having a positive attitude towards its use. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the extent to which seasoned English language teachers developed their ICT skills through a Service-Learning Activity (SLA). Using a one-group pre- and post-test design, this study collected the data through a modified Needs Assessment Survey (NAS) distributed to fourteen purposively selected participants. It was administered to examine what (...) professional ICT development would greatly benefit them. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and themes according to the Service-Learning Activity (SLA) topics. A Post Evaluation Survey (PES) was administered, and its result was compared to the initial test. The results showed that the seasoned teachers gained significant learning gains in terms of (1) sharing of knowledge from other teachers; (2) being encouraged to use ICT tools; (3) training opportunities; (4) working with other colleagues; and 5) attending professional workshops which include SLA. However, this study unveiled that the English teachers had no significant difference in perceptions regarding the roles of computers in teaching before and after the intervention. Limitations and recommendations for future studies were discussed. (shrink)

This is a review of Daniel Dennett and Gregg D. Caruso's Just Deserts: Debating Free Will.

Abstract -/- This paper clarifies and extends my recursive epistemic framework, building on Critical Self Critique – The Full Triad (McPhetridge, 2025c) and pressure-tested by recent critical engagements with my 2025 work (Toward a General Theory of Recursive Epistemic Modeling; The Mirror That Refuses to Break). The key issues are: the temporal structure of the Φ-recursive paradox, the structural distinction between real and simulated recursion, the operational status of “the moment,” the conditions for genuine self-referential activity, and the diagnostic use (...) of Φ-variants for LLM seams. -/- Rather than conceding these critiques, I use them to harden the triad (Φ / F / ∇H) as a bridge-language: Φ gains explicit temporal layer-separation, “the moment” is demystified as coincidence measurable by information-theoretic synchrony, ∇H gains additional falsification triggers, and a regime-map program is specified for validating scale-stable identity attractors. The stance remains constraint-first, falsifiable, and engineering-oriented. The triad is validated only by load: predictive utility, diagnostic clarity, and survival under critique. -/- ⸻ -/- 1. Introduction -/- Recursive Epistemic Modeling (REM) was proposed as a mechanical architecture for reasoning about opaque systems (McPhetridge, 2025a), and extended to human–LLM interaction where simulated fluidity meets constraint-bound machinery, revealing “seams” at architectural boundaries (McPhetridge, 2025b). -/- The Φ / F / ∇H triad was introduced as a minimal constraint vocabulary for recursive systems (McPhetridge, 2025c): • Φ: continuation • F: scale reconciliation • ∇H: stabilization against drift -/- The triad is instrumental, not ontological: a bridge-language that forces assumptions into testable form. This paper tightens definitions and adds operational structure under the guardrails specified in Scope & Guardrails (McPhetridge, 2026a), explicitly preventing metaphysical drift or universal capture. (shrink)

Abstract -/- This paper reports a constrained execution of the Φ / F / ∇H triad within Recursive Epistemic Modeling (REM). The objective is not theoretical expansion but structural testing: under declared falsifiers, matched controls, and capture guards, does the triad generate discriminative and non-degenerate structure? -/- Two empirical programs are executed: 1. Program A — Regime Mapping: A minimal continuation–stabilization map is swept across parameter space to test for structured stability basins that remain separable under matched nonlinear controls. 2. (...) Program B — Seam Diagnostics: A large language model is probed with recursive-closure prompts, matched prohibitions, neutral prompts, and meta-descriptive controls to test whether seam behavior reflects continuation pressure rather than policy templating. -/- Both programs include explicit collapse conditions. Negative outcomes are admissible. -/- The triad survives this execution provisionally. It remains bounded, falsifiable, and revisable. Replication and ensemble stress-testing remain decisive. -/- ⸻ -/- 1. Introduction -/- Recursive Epistemic Modeling (REM) is a constraint-first framework for analyzing systems that must maintain coherence under drift, perturbation, and entropy. -/- The Φ / F / ∇H triad functions as a minimal operator vocabulary: • Φ — continuation / recursive update • F — cross-scale reconciliation • ∇H — stabilization against dispersion -/- The triad is instrumental, not ontological. It is modeling machinery. -/- The narrow objective of this paper: -/- Does the triad generate discriminative structure under comparative load such that it can be falsified rather than indefinitely reinterpreted? -/- If not, it must narrow or collapse. (shrink)

This paper discusses the first incarnation of what came to be known as the “Frege-Geach” point. The point was made by Peter Geach in his 1960 essay “Ascriptivism”, and developed in “Assertion”, a 1965 piece. Geach’s articles launch a wholesale attack on theories of non-descriptive performances advanced by “some Oxford philosophers” whom he accuses of ignoring “the distinction between calling a thing ‘P’ and predicating ‘P’ of a thing”. One view that Geach specifically targets is H. L. A. Hart’s claim (...) that sentences of the form “X φ-ed” are not primarily descriptive but ascriptive of responsibility for actions. Hart explicitly accepted Geach’s criticism, and disowned his essay. I argue that he was wrong to do so. Perhaps the essay was worth retracting, but not because of Geach’s objections. I begin by restating and refining Geach’s arguments, in order to bring out the flaw he claimed to have detected in the “pattern of philosophising” that he took Hart’s essay to exemplify. I go on to argue that Geach’s original point poses no obstacle either to non-descriptivism in general, or to Hart’s sui generis non-descriptivist claim in particular. (shrink)