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Papers by Sarita Rosenstock

Research paper thumbnail of The Coordination Dilemma For Epidemiological Modelers

Biology and Philosophy, 2021

Epidemiological models directly shape policy responses to public health crises. We argue that the... more Epidemiological models directly shape policy responses to public health crises. We argue that they also play a less obvious but important role in solving certain coordination problems and social dilemmas that arise during pandemics. This role is both ethically and epistemically valuable. However, it also gives rise to an underappreciated dilemma, as the features that make models good at solving coordination problems are often at odds with the features that make for a good scientific model. We examine and develop this dilemma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggest extensions to other domains.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning From the Shape of Data

Philosophy of Science, 2021

To make sense of large data sets, we often look for patterns in how data points are "shaped" in t... more To make sense of large data sets, we often look for patterns in how data points are "shaped" in the space of possible measurement outcomes. The emerging field of topological data analysis (TDA) offers a toolkit for formalizing the process of identifying such shapes. This paper aims to discover why and how the resulting analysis should be understood as reflecting significant features of the systems that generated the data. I argue that a particular feature of TDA-its functoriality-is what enables TDA to translate visual intuitions about structure in data into precise, computationally tractable descriptions of real-world systems.

Research paper thumbnail of Why Be Regular?, Part I

We provide a novel perspective on " regularity " as a property of representations of the Weyl alg... more We provide a novel perspective on " regularity " as a property of representations of the Weyl algebra. We first critique a proposal by Halvorson [2004, " Complementarity of representations in quantum mechanics " , Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 35(1), pp. 45–56], who argues that the non-regular " position " and " momentum " representations of the Weyl algebra demonstrate that a quantum mechanical particle can have definite values for position or momentum, contrary to a widespread view. We show that there are obstacles to such an intepretation of non-regular representations. In Part II, we propose a justification for focusing on regular representations, pace Halvorson, by drawing on algebraic methods.

Research paper thumbnail of When it's Good to Feel Bad: Evolutionary Models of Guilt and Apology, Preprint

Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2018

We use techniques from evolutionary game theory to analyze the conditions under which guilt can p... more We use techniques from evolutionary game theory to analyze the conditions under which guilt can provide individual fitness benefits, and so evolve. In particular, we focus on the benefits of guilty apology. We consider models where actors err in an iterated prisoner's dilemma and have the option to apologize. Guilt either improves the trustworthiness of apology, or imposes a cost on actors who apologize. We analyze the stability and likelihood of evolution of such a `guilt-prone' strategy against cooperators, defectors, grim-triggers, and individuals who offer fake apologies, but continue to defect. We find that in evolutionary models guilty apology is more likely to evolve in cases where actors interact repeatedly over long periods of time, where the costs of apology are low or moderate, and where guilt is hard to fake. Researchers interested in naturalized ethics, and emotion researchers, can employ these results to assess the plausibility of fuller accounts of the evolution of guilt.

Research paper thumbnail of In Epistemic Networks, Is Less Really More?

Philosophy of Science, 2017

We show that previous results from epistemic network models (Zollman, 2007, 2010; Kummerfeld and ... more We show that previous results from epistemic network models (Zollman, 2007, 2010; Kummerfeld and Zollman, 2015) showing the benefits of decreased connectivity in epistemic networks are not robust across changes in parameter values. Our findings motivate discussion about whether and how such models can inform real-world epistemic communities. As we argue, only robust results from epistemic network models should be used to generate advice for the real-world, and, in particular, decreasing connectivity is a robustly poor recommendation.

Research paper thumbnail of On Einstein Algebras and Relativistic Spacetimes

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

In this paper, we examine the relationship between general relativity and the theory of Einstein ... more In this paper, we examine the relationship between general relativity and the theory of Einstein algebras. We show that according to a formal criterion for theoretical equivalence recently proposed by Halvorson (2012, 2015) and Weatherall (2015), the two are equivalent theories.

Research paper thumbnail of A Categorical Equivalence between Generalized Holonomy Maps on a Connected Manifold and Principal Connections on Bundles over that Manifold

A classic result in the foundations of Yang-Mills theory, due to J. W. Barrett ["Holonomy and Pat... more A classic result in the foundations of Yang-Mills theory, due to J. W. Barrett ["Holonomy and Path Structures in General Relativity and Yang-Mills Theory." Int. J. Th. Phys. 30(9), (1991)], establishes that given a "generalized" holonomy map from the space of piece-wise smooth, closed curves based at some point of a manifold to a Lie group, there exists a principal bundle with that group as structure group and a principal connection on that bundle such that the holonomy map corresponds to the holonomies of that connection. Barrett also provided one sense in which this "recovery theorem" yields a unique bundle, up to isomorphism. Here we show that something stronger is true: with an appropriate definition of isomorphism between generalized holonomy maps, there is an equivalence of categories between the category whose objects are generalized holonomy maps on a smooth, connected manifold and whose arrows are holonomy isomorphisms, and the category whose objects are principal connections on principal bundles over a smooth, connected manifold. This result clarifies, and somewhat improves upon, the sense of "unique recovery" in Barrett's theorems; it also makes precise a sense in which there is no loss of structure involved in moving from a principal bundle formulation of Yang-Mills theory to a holonomy, or "loop", formulation.

Research paper thumbnail of Annealing of directionally solidified alloys revisited: No loss of solidification texture in Earth's inner core

a b s t r a c t found experimental evidence for recrystallization and loss of solidification text... more a b s t r a c t found experimental evidence for recrystallization and loss of solidification texture during annealing of directionally solidified hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Zn-rich Sn alloys. They suggested that this could support the model of and , in which the Earth's inner core translates convectively eastwards with enhanced solidification in the western hemisphere and melting in the eastern, because as inner core material translates eastwards and anneals it might lose texture, as inferred seismically. The 2010 study hypothesized that the alloys recrystallized rather than coarsened via diffusion due to the very low solubility of Sn in the Zn-rich phase. This study tests this hypothesis by annealing directionally solidified hcp Zn-rich Al alloys, in which there is greater solubility. Indeed, we find the Zn-rich Al alloys coarsen without recrystallization or fundamental change in texture. However, in contrast to the 2010 study the current study also did not find recrystallization in Zn-rich Sn alloys. This might tend to support models such as those by Cormier and where long term mantle control over fluid flow near the base of the outer core might result in a weaker solidification texture in the eastern hemisphere. Although we do believe the results of the previous study are valid because they were repeatable at that time, it shows that there is something subtle that we cannot yet account for, and it remains unclear whether there is loss of solidification texture due to annealing of Earth's inner core.

Research paper thumbnail of The Coordination Dilemma For Epidemiological Modelers

Biology and Philosophy, 2021

Epidemiological models directly shape policy responses to public health crises. We argue that the... more Epidemiological models directly shape policy responses to public health crises. We argue that they also play a less obvious but important role in solving certain coordination problems and social dilemmas that arise during pandemics. This role is both ethically and epistemically valuable. However, it also gives rise to an underappreciated dilemma, as the features that make models good at solving coordination problems are often at odds with the features that make for a good scientific model. We examine and develop this dilemma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggest extensions to other domains.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning From the Shape of Data

Philosophy of Science, 2021

To make sense of large data sets, we often look for patterns in how data points are "shaped" in t... more To make sense of large data sets, we often look for patterns in how data points are "shaped" in the space of possible measurement outcomes. The emerging field of topological data analysis (TDA) offers a toolkit for formalizing the process of identifying such shapes. This paper aims to discover why and how the resulting analysis should be understood as reflecting significant features of the systems that generated the data. I argue that a particular feature of TDA-its functoriality-is what enables TDA to translate visual intuitions about structure in data into precise, computationally tractable descriptions of real-world systems.

Research paper thumbnail of Why Be Regular?, Part I

We provide a novel perspective on " regularity " as a property of representations of the Weyl alg... more We provide a novel perspective on " regularity " as a property of representations of the Weyl algebra. We first critique a proposal by Halvorson [2004, " Complementarity of representations in quantum mechanics " , Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 35(1), pp. 45–56], who argues that the non-regular " position " and " momentum " representations of the Weyl algebra demonstrate that a quantum mechanical particle can have definite values for position or momentum, contrary to a widespread view. We show that there are obstacles to such an intepretation of non-regular representations. In Part II, we propose a justification for focusing on regular representations, pace Halvorson, by drawing on algebraic methods.

Research paper thumbnail of When it's Good to Feel Bad: Evolutionary Models of Guilt and Apology, Preprint

Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2018

We use techniques from evolutionary game theory to analyze the conditions under which guilt can p... more We use techniques from evolutionary game theory to analyze the conditions under which guilt can provide individual fitness benefits, and so evolve. In particular, we focus on the benefits of guilty apology. We consider models where actors err in an iterated prisoner's dilemma and have the option to apologize. Guilt either improves the trustworthiness of apology, or imposes a cost on actors who apologize. We analyze the stability and likelihood of evolution of such a `guilt-prone' strategy against cooperators, defectors, grim-triggers, and individuals who offer fake apologies, but continue to defect. We find that in evolutionary models guilty apology is more likely to evolve in cases where actors interact repeatedly over long periods of time, where the costs of apology are low or moderate, and where guilt is hard to fake. Researchers interested in naturalized ethics, and emotion researchers, can employ these results to assess the plausibility of fuller accounts of the evolution of guilt.

Research paper thumbnail of In Epistemic Networks, Is Less Really More?

Philosophy of Science, 2017

We show that previous results from epistemic network models (Zollman, 2007, 2010; Kummerfeld and ... more We show that previous results from epistemic network models (Zollman, 2007, 2010; Kummerfeld and Zollman, 2015) showing the benefits of decreased connectivity in epistemic networks are not robust across changes in parameter values. Our findings motivate discussion about whether and how such models can inform real-world epistemic communities. As we argue, only robust results from epistemic network models should be used to generate advice for the real-world, and, in particular, decreasing connectivity is a robustly poor recommendation.

Research paper thumbnail of On Einstein Algebras and Relativistic Spacetimes

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

In this paper, we examine the relationship between general relativity and the theory of Einstein ... more In this paper, we examine the relationship between general relativity and the theory of Einstein algebras. We show that according to a formal criterion for theoretical equivalence recently proposed by Halvorson (2012, 2015) and Weatherall (2015), the two are equivalent theories.

Research paper thumbnail of A Categorical Equivalence between Generalized Holonomy Maps on a Connected Manifold and Principal Connections on Bundles over that Manifold

A classic result in the foundations of Yang-Mills theory, due to J. W. Barrett ["Holonomy and Pat... more A classic result in the foundations of Yang-Mills theory, due to J. W. Barrett ["Holonomy and Path Structures in General Relativity and Yang-Mills Theory." Int. J. Th. Phys. 30(9), (1991)], establishes that given a "generalized" holonomy map from the space of piece-wise smooth, closed curves based at some point of a manifold to a Lie group, there exists a principal bundle with that group as structure group and a principal connection on that bundle such that the holonomy map corresponds to the holonomies of that connection. Barrett also provided one sense in which this "recovery theorem" yields a unique bundle, up to isomorphism. Here we show that something stronger is true: with an appropriate definition of isomorphism between generalized holonomy maps, there is an equivalence of categories between the category whose objects are generalized holonomy maps on a smooth, connected manifold and whose arrows are holonomy isomorphisms, and the category whose objects are principal connections on principal bundles over a smooth, connected manifold. This result clarifies, and somewhat improves upon, the sense of "unique recovery" in Barrett's theorems; it also makes precise a sense in which there is no loss of structure involved in moving from a principal bundle formulation of Yang-Mills theory to a holonomy, or "loop", formulation.

Research paper thumbnail of Annealing of directionally solidified alloys revisited: No loss of solidification texture in Earth's inner core

a b s t r a c t found experimental evidence for recrystallization and loss of solidification text... more a b s t r a c t found experimental evidence for recrystallization and loss of solidification texture during annealing of directionally solidified hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Zn-rich Sn alloys. They suggested that this could support the model of and , in which the Earth's inner core translates convectively eastwards with enhanced solidification in the western hemisphere and melting in the eastern, because as inner core material translates eastwards and anneals it might lose texture, as inferred seismically. The 2010 study hypothesized that the alloys recrystallized rather than coarsened via diffusion due to the very low solubility of Sn in the Zn-rich phase. This study tests this hypothesis by annealing directionally solidified hcp Zn-rich Al alloys, in which there is greater solubility. Indeed, we find the Zn-rich Al alloys coarsen without recrystallization or fundamental change in texture. However, in contrast to the 2010 study the current study also did not find recrystallization in Zn-rich Sn alloys. This might tend to support models such as those by Cormier and where long term mantle control over fluid flow near the base of the outer core might result in a weaker solidification texture in the eastern hemisphere. Although we do believe the results of the previous study are valid because they were repeatable at that time, it shows that there is something subtle that we cannot yet account for, and it remains unclear whether there is loss of solidification texture due to annealing of Earth's inner core.