Projects at CSLI

Knowing what a text means involves drawing inferences based in the information in the text. Our group works on inferential properties of linguistic expressions to enable automated reasoning for NL understanding.

Our group works on inferential properties of linguistic expressions to enable automated reasoning for NL understanding.

We want to contribute to the theoretical understanding of how language and reasoning interact and to the computational modeling of such interactions.
Currently we concentrate on:

• the linguistic encoding of temporal and spatial information,
• the linguistic encoding of modality,
• local textual inferences,
• natural logic,
• deriving logical forms that allow interaction with structured information and computational reasoners. 

For more information about the project see http://www.stanford.edu/group/csli_lnr/

LDL research concentrates on applications of logic, especially modal logics and dynamic logics, for modeling aspects of rational agency—from knowledge, belief, and information to action, intention, and games.

Dedicated to the study of linguistic meaning as a cognitive phenomenon, with particular attention to its connections with grammar, reasoning, and decision-making. Methods include web-based experiments, eye-tracking, and logical and computational models rooted in linguistics, cognitive science, and philosophy. 

Recent student work

[See the PI's website for additional, non-student work]

Qing, Ciyang. 2016. Up to n: Pragmatic Inference about an Optimal Lower Bound. In Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory 26 (SALT 26).

Crone, Phil. (2016). Asserting Clarity & Managing Awareness. Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung 20.

Qing, Ciyang. 2016. Up to n: Pragmatic Inference about an Optimal Lower Bound. Qualifying paper, Stanford Linguistics.

Qing, Ciyang, Noah Goodman & Daniel Lassiter. (2016). A Rational Speech-Act Model of Projective Content. In Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (CogSci 2016).

Crone, Phil. 2015. Asserting Clarity as Managing Awareness. Qualifying Paper, Stanford Linguistics.

Nadathur, Prerna and Daniel Lassiter. 2015. Unless: An experimental approach. Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung 19.

Nadathur, Prerna. 2014. Unless, exceptionality, and the pragmatics of conditional statements Qualifying Paper, Stanford Linguistics.

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The Metaphysics Research Lab consists of a group of researchers located around the world collaborating with Edward N. Zalta on the axiomatic theory of abstract objects.  This theory consists of principles that govern the abstract objects presupposed in the natural sciences, such as mathematical objects and relations, possible states, possible and future objects, etc. The two main principles of the theory are existence and identity conditions for abstract objects: ∃x(A!x & ∀x(xF ≡ φ)) and A!x & A!y → (∀F(xF ≡yF) → x=y).

At present, Zalta is collaborating with Hannes Leitgeb on a paper that shows how object theory offers a logicist account of mathematics. He is also collaborating with Otávio Bueno and Christopher Menzel on a paper that shows how object theory avoids the Russell-Kaplan style paradoxes that affect those who analyze possible worlds as sets of propositions or analyze propositions as sets of worlds. Finally, he is collaborating with Paul Oppenheimer and Jesse Alama on a project in computational metaphysics, namely, that of using automated reasoning engines to derive the theorems about possible worlds and individual concepts that were first described in Zalta's paper “A (Theory) of Leibnizian Concepts”

Recently, Zalta completed a paper with Uri Nodelman, entitled “Foundations for Mathematical Structuralism” (under review), a paper with Branden Fitelson entitled “Steps Towards a Computational Metaphysics” (J. Philosophical Logic), a paper with Bernard Linsky entitled “What is Neologicism?” (Bulletin of Symbolic Logic), a paper with Michael Nelson entitled “A Defense of Contingent Logical Truths” (Philosophical Studies, forthcoming), and two papers with Paul Oppenheimer, one entitled “Relations Versus Functions at the Foundations of Logic: Type-Theoretic Considerations” (Journal of Logic and Computation) and one entitled “A Computationally-Discovered Simplification of the Ontological Argument” (Australasian Journal of Philosophy).