Seeing is behaving

Seeing more is seeing better.

Listening is behaving verbally.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of B. F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior, it may be important to reconsider the role of the listener in the verbal episode. Although by Skinner's own admission, Verbal Behavior was primarily about the behavior of the speaker, his definition of verbal behavior as "behavior reinforced through the mediation of other persons" (1957, p. 2) focused on...

Not seeing is believing

Doctors and the public considerably underestimate the negative impact of age related macular degeneration (ARMD) on health related quality of life. (Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:8–12) The progressive nature of ARMD prevents participation in many everyday activities, such as reading and driving, and it is also the most common cause of blindness in elderly people. A standardised questionnaire created ...

Seeing is believing.

For many of our patients, “seeing is believing.” In fact, some of the most tangible discussions about cancer are centered on an X-ray image. The X-ray image, brightly lit from behind, historically has given a physical quality to the relatively nebulous term “cancer.” Imaging studies in many solid organ cancers have improved to the point that we consider their presence on film to be vital part o...

Seeing is Believing

In this paper we present a formal common sense theory of perception and belief. We begin with a logical analysis of perception, and present formal semantics for a modal perception operator. We then consider the relationship between perception and belief, and in particular the question of when perception should lead to belief change. Our theory is intended to apply to both to high-level, mental,...