Some Things I've Been Up To (Whether You Care to Know or Not)

[Cuddlefish]

Don't worry, I WILL write on this, one way or another. Right now I'm trying to figure out a good test to try to measure the effectiveness of my diagram vs. the original. I'm figuring I should take two groups of non-philosophy students from various departments, group A and group B. Then, teach group A immediate inferences using the old diagram, and test them. Then, take group A again and reteach them with my diagram, and test them. Then compare scores to see if there are any improvements. Simultaneously, I would do the opposite with group B (start with my diagram, the reteach with the original).

However, I am not a scientist by trade, so any advice on experimentation conditions or setup would be helpful.

Also, fucking LOL at the discordian improving logic tools. The irony burns.

[Cuddlefish]

Well, I could explain it better in person, and I could draw it better by hand, but if you want to give me a bit, I can write something up on how it works and somehow come up with a graphic. Mind you, if this really is as cool as I think it may be, it's senior thesis material, and I'd rather be a little tight-lipped about it while I'm working on it.

But, I will tell you this: the old square over-simplifies everything. By abstracting out a second square (one for T statements only, and one for F statements only) you have no parts of the diagram doing double duty (True A statements go in the same place as False ones, etc., in the old diagram, which in many cases, leads to confusion regarding certain types of inferences). Further, if you stack the two squares in such a way, it highlights a third zone which automatically tells you which statements produce unknown inferences, thus eliminating the need to remember the rules of contraries, and allowing you to replace the rules of alteration/sub-alteration with a simpler rule, which gives you a total of only two rules, one universal to all instances on the diagram, and one conditional dependent on the zone in which you begin inferring.

I think I sort of understand the gist of what you're saying, maybe. It sounds like the cliffs notes version is a simpler way to teach people how to use logic? That's wicked fucking cool.

The bolded bit, yes. At least that is the current hypothesis.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I would just compare group A(new diagram) to group B(old diagram).

[Pæs]

I would just compare group A(new diagram) to group B(old diagram).

Yeah, while on paper the reteaching sounds like it might balance things out a bit, it sounds more likely to muddy the waters with regards to whether the subject's performance in their second test is based on their first or second teaching.

[LMNO]

Agreed. Two groups, no prior knowledge, who can navigate classic logic better?  For a control, don't teach group three, compare no teaching, old way of teaching, new way of teaching.

[Cuddlefish]

Just an update: I have presented my diagram to a member of the staff, and asked if this may be worthy of a senior thesis. I was told that I may, in fact, have found my Masters thesis. Now, the jury is still out, but if this is any indicator, I may have done something good and meaningful. I am anxious and exited. Let's see how it goes...

[Pæs]

Excellent news man!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Just an update: I have presented my diagram to a member of the staff, and asked if this may be worthy of a senior thesis. I was told that I may, in fact, have found my Masters thesis. Now, the jury is still out, but if this is any indicator, I may have done something good and meaningful. I am anxious and exited. Let's see how it goes...

[Freeky]

Dimo, I am super excited for you!  That's amazeballs awesome, dude.

[Reginald Ret]

Just an update: I have presented my diagram to a member of the staff, and asked if this may be worthy of a senior thesis. I was told that I may, in fact, have found my Masters thesis. Now, the jury is still out, but if this is any indicator, I may have done something good and meaningful. I am anxious and exited. Let's see how it goes...

Excellent!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Just an update: I have presented my diagram to a member of the staff, and asked if this may be worthy of a senior thesis. I was told that I may, in fact, have found my Masters thesis. Now, the jury is still out, but if this is any indicator, I may have done something good and meaningful. I am anxious and exited. Let's see how it goes...

That is awesome!!!

[Cuddlefish]

Thanks, dudes. I really appreciate all of your support.

The diagram is being forwarded to a prof. in the computer science department because there may not be anyone in the PHL department qualified to supervise a thesis...

[Cuddlefish]

So, it's almost official. Met up with the Prof. from the comp-sci dept. and he loved my model. All that's left to do before I get started is the paperwork to make it official. The classical Phl world is about to get really upset. They tend to not like it when people improve upon the classics...

[Suu]

Did you graduate this term? Or are you sticking around for a bit? I remember you also mentioning you were looking into heading up to Amherst.

[UB]

It sure does.

Beats batting strays.