Beyond Statistical Criticism

Studying Irony Detection Beyond Ironic Criticism: Let's Include Ironic Praise

Studies of irony detection have commonly used ironic criticisms (i.e., mock positive evaluation of negative circumstances) as stimulus materials. Another basic type of verbal irony, ironic praise (i.e., mock negative evaluation of positive circumstances) is largely absent from studies on individuals' aptitude to detect verbal irony. However, it can be argued that ironic praise needs to be consi...

Statistical Model Criticism using Kernel Two Sample Tests

We propose an exploratory approach to statistical model criticism using maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) two sample tests. Typical approaches to model criticism require a practitioner to select a statistic by which to measure discrepancies between data and a statistical model. MMD two sample tests are instead constructed as an analytic maximisation over a large space of possible statistics and th...

Beyond Traditional Statistical Methods

Today’s courses in statistical methods, for the most part, focus on the same methods that were taught 30 years ago. The actual practice of statistics has moved beyond these traditional statistical methods. Modern methods including dynamic graphics, nonlinear estimation, resampling and other simulation based inference methods are being used by many scientists and engineers. However, these method...

Beyond Statistical Learning in Syntax

Criticism of Benacerraf’s Criticism of Modern Eleatics

I analyze here Benacerraf’s criticism of Thomson arguments on the impossibility of ω-supertasks. Although Benacerraf’s criticism is well founded, his analysis of Thomson’s lamp is incomplete. In fact, it is possible to consider a new line of argument, which Benacerraf only incidentally considered, based on the functioning laws of the lamp. This argument leads to a contradictory result that comp...