Reasoning situated in time I: basic concepts* |
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Authors: | JENNIFER J ELGOT-DRAPKIN DONALD PERLIS |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Computer Science , College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, AZ, 85287-5406, USA;2. Department of Computer Science and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies , University of Maryland , College Park, MD, 20742, USA |
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Abstract: | Abstract The needs of a real-time reasoner situated in an environment may make it appropriate to view error-correction and non-monotonicity as much the same thing. This has led us to formulate situated (or step) logic, an approach to reasoning in which the formalism has a kind of real-time self-reference that affects the course of deduction itself. Here we seek to motivate this as a useful vehicle for exploring certain issues in commonsense reasoning. In particular, a chief drawback of more traditional logics is avoided: from a contradiction we do not have all wffs swamping the (growing) conclusion set. Rather, we seek potentially inconsistent, but nevertheless useful, logics where the real-time self-referential feature allows a direct contradiction to be spotted and corrective action taken, as part of the same system of reasoning. Some specific inference mechanisms for real-time default reasoning are suggested, notably a form of introspection relevant to default reasoning. Special treatment of ‘now’ and of contradictions are the main technical devices here. We illustrate this with a computer-implemented real time solution to R. Moore's Brother Problem. |
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Keywords: | Commonsense reasoning default reasoning time-situated reasoning |
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