private boolean getBoolean(CycSymbol paramName) {
    Object rawValue = get(paramName);
    if (rawValue instanceof Boolean) {
      return (Boolean) rawValue;
    } else {
      rawValue = getDefaultInferenceParameterDescriptions().getDefaultInferenceParameters().get(paramName);
      return (rawValue instanceof Boolean) ? (Boolean) rawValue : false;
    }
  }