For over 60 years, computers have been based on digital computing principles. Data is represented as bits (1s and 0s). Boolean logic gates perform operations on these bits. Lyric has invented a new kind of logic gate circuit that uses transistors as dimmer switches instead of as on/off switches. These circuits can accept inputs and calculate outputs that are between 0 and 1, directly representing probabilities – levels of certainty. A digital processor steps through these operations serially in order to perform a function. In order to improve efficiency even further, Lyric’s processors are designed to perform many probability computations in parallel. (Lyric Press Materials)

The Monty Hall Problem, (The New York Times).

Take this question out back…, (Language Log).

Finally, the great Lenny Pickett, (circa 1973). He is the one in the bow tie.

For details and deadlines, contact:
—————————
Jean Goubault-Larrecq
goubault@lsv.ens-cachan.fr
Eric Goubault
eric.goubault@cea.fr
Olivier Bouissou
olivier.bouissou@cea.fr

Project description:

This postdoctoral position is part of the ANR Blanc “Confidence, Proof and Probabilities” project. This project aims at studying the joint use of probabilistic and deterministic semantics and analysis methods in order to improve the applicability and precision of static analysis methods on numerical programs. The project includes theoretical computer scientists, specialists of abstract interpretation based static analysis, applied mathematicians and control theoreticians as well as industrial partners. The project will contain the following steps:

* construction of good approximations of the semantics for non-deterministic and probabilistic behaviours.
* abstraction of these semantics models for the tractable static analysis of complex programs and test case generation.
* characterisation of the imprecision error due to the use of floating point numbers by the program.

The role of this postdoctoral position is to explore the theoretical and practical aspects of these points. A first task will be to define a good semantics for probabilistic behaviours in numerical programms, building on work by Goubault-Larrecq at LSV [ICALP07,PRONOBIS], in particular the notion of prevision transition systems [FOSSACS08]. Then, the candidate will explore the abstraction semantics, based on deterministic abstractions using zonotopes as in [CAV09,arxiv2008,arxiv2010]. Finally, if time permits and according to the applicants preferences, he/she may look into the notion of bisimulation distances to characterize the imprecision error.

Qualifications:
———————-
The candidate must have a PhD in computer science or applied mathematics and be specialist of
one of the following subject: probabiliy theory, static analysis, numerical programs analysis,…

Practical information:
———————-
This work will be done in very close collaboration with co-advisors from two sites (Jean Goubault-Larrecq at LSV and Eric Goubault at CEA LIST), and will be deeply associated with the project. The candidate will be located both at ENS Cachan, and at CEA Saclay nearby Paris. Salaries range from 27840 to 30000 euros per year.
———————-
[CAV2009] Khalil Ghorbal, Eric Goubault, Sylvie Putot, “The Zonotope Abstract Domain Taylor1+”, CAV 2009.

[Arxiv2010] Eric Goubault, Sylvie Putot, “A zonotopic framework for functional
abstractions”, CoRR abs/0910.1763.

[Arxiv2008] Eric Goubault, Sylvie Putot, “Perturbed affine arithmetic for invariant computation in numerical program analysis”, CoRR abs/0807.2961

[ICALP07] Jean Goubault-Larrecq, “Continuous Capacities on Continuous State Spaces”, ICALP 07, LNCS 4596.

[FOSSACS08] Jean Goubault-Larrecq, “Prevision Domains and Convex Powercones”, FOSSACS 2008, LNCS 4962.

[PRONOBIS] Jean Goubault-Larrecq, “Une introduction aux capacites, aux jeux et aux previsions”, available at http://www.lsv.ens-cachan.fr/~goubault/ProBobis/pp.pdf.

(1) Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich is seeking applications for an Assistant Professorship in Logic and Philosophy of Language at the Chair for Logic and Philosophy of Language (Professor Hannes Leitgeb) at the Faculty for Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and the Study of Religion. The position, which is to start from October 1st 2010, is for three years with the possibility of extension. Technically, it is a so-called ””Akademische Ratsstelle auf Zeit”” in the Bavarian university system, which means basically that one has the rights and perks of a civil servant.

The appointee will be expected (i) to do research in logic and philosophy of language, (ii) to teach five hours a week in these or in related areas, and (iii) to contribute to the new Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) which is about to be founded at the LMU. The successful candidate will have (iv) a PhD in philosophy or logic, and (v) teaching experience in philosophy or logic.

The appointment will be made within the German A13 salary scheme. More information on this position can be found at <http://www.uni-muenchen.de/aktuelles/stellenangebote/wissenschaft/20100617151216.html>.

Women are currently underrepresented in the Faculty, therefore we particularly welcome applications for this post from suitably qualified female candidates. Given equal qualification, severely physically challenged individuals will be preferred.

Applications (including CV, certificates, list of publications) should be sent to:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft
Geschäftsstelle
Hauspost Fach 41
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80539 München
E-Mail: alexander.nawrath@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

by July 2nd, 2010.

Contact for informal inquiries: Prof. Dr. Hannes Leitgeb (<Hannes.Leitgeb@bristol.ac.uk>, <http://www.bris.ac.uk/philosophy/department/staff/hl.html>).

——————

(2) Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich is seeking applications for an Assistant Professorship in Mathematical Philosophy at the new Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) which will be tied to the Chair in Logic and Philosophy of Language (Prof. Dr. Hannes Leitgeb) at the Faculty for Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and the Study of Religion. The position, which is to start from October 1st 2010, is for three years with the possibility of extension. Technically, it is a so-called ””Akademische Ratsstelle auf Zeit”” in the Bavarian university system, which means basically that one has the rights and perks of a civil servant.

The appointee will be expected (i) to do philosophical research assisted by logical or mathematical methods, (ii) to teach five hours a week in areas of philosophy in which logical or mathematical methods are applied, and (iii) to take on management tasks in the new Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. The successful candidate will have (iv) a PhD in philosophy or logic, and (v) teaching experience in philosophy or logic.

The appointment will be made within the German A13 salary scheme. More information on this position can be found at <http://www.uni-muenchen.de/aktuelles/stellenangebote/wissenschaft/20100617151904.html>.

Women are currently underrepresented in the Faculty, therefore we particularly welcome applications for this post from suitably qualified female candidates. Given equal qualification, severely physically challenged individuals will be preferred.

Applications (including CV, certificates, list of publications) should be sent to

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft
Geschäftsstelle
Hauspost Fach 41
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80539 München
E-Mail: alexander.nawrath@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

by July 2nd, 2010.

Contact for informal inquiries: Prof. Dr. Hannes Leitgeb (<Hannes.Leitgeb@bristol.ac.uk>, <http://www.bris.ac.uk/philosophy/department/staff/hl.html>).

———————-
Hannes Leitgeb
Professor of Mathematical Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
Departments of Philosophy and Mathematics
University of Bristol
9 Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1TB, UK

http://www.bris.ac.uk/philosophy/department/staff/hl.html
http://www.maths.bris.ac.uk/people/faculty/plxhl/
Email: Hannes.Leitgeb@bristol.ac.uk
Tel: (+44)(0)117 928 8890
Fax: (+44)(0)117 928 8626

In defence of objective Bayesianism

How strongly should you believe the various propositions that you can express?

That is the key question facing Bayesian epistemology. Subjective Bayesians hold that it is largely (though not entirely) up to the agent as to which degrees of belief to adopt. Objective Bayesians, on the other hand, maintain that appropriate degrees of belief are largely (though not entirely) determined by the agent’s evidence. This book states and defends a version of objective Bayesian epistemology. According to this version, objective Bayesianism is characterized by three norms:

• Probability – degrees of belief should be probabilities
• Calibration – they should be calibrated with evidence
• Equivocation – they should otherwise equivocate between basic outcomes

Objective Bayesianism has been challenged on a number of different fronts. For example, some claim it is poorly motivated, or fails to handle qualitative evidence, or yields counter-intuitive degrees of belief after updating, or suffers from a failure to learn from experience. It has also been accused of being computationally intractable, susceptible to paradox, language dependent, and of not being objective enough.

Especially suitable for graduates or researchers in philosophy of science, foundations of statistics and artificial intelligence, the book argues that these criticisms can be met and that objective Bayesianism is a promising theory with an exciting agenda for further research.

Available now through all good bookshops, or direct from Oxford University
Press at:
http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199228003.do

I give a quick sketch of the justification of objective Bayesianism that I favour in a book review, available here or here.