9,720 research outputs found
Reasoning about Action: An Argumentation - Theoretic Approach
We present a uniform non-monotonic solution to the problems of reasoning
about action on the basis of an argumentation-theoretic approach. Our theory is
provably correct relative to a sensible minimisation policy introduced on top
of a temporal propositional logic. Sophisticated problem domains can be
formalised in our framework. As much attention of researchers in the field has
been paid to the traditional and basic problems in reasoning about actions such
as the frame, the qualification and the ramification problems, approaches to
these problems within our formalisation lie at heart of the expositions
presented in this paper
Actual Causation in CP-logic
Given a causal model of some domain and a particular story that has taken
place in this domain, the problem of actual causation is deciding which of the
possible causes for some effect actually caused it. One of the most influential
approaches to this problem has been developed by Halpern and Pearl in the
context of structural models. In this paper, I argue that this is actually not
the best setting for studying this problem. As an alternative, I offer the
probabilistic logic programming language of CP-logic. Unlike structural models,
CP-logic incorporates the deviant/default distinction that is generally
considered an important aspect of actual causation, and it has an explicitly
dynamic semantics, which helps to formalize the stories that serve as input to
an actual causation problem
Embracing Background Knowledge in the Analysis of Actual Causality: An Answer Set Programming Approach
This paper presents a rich knowledge representation language aimed at
formalizing causal knowledge. This language is used for accurately and directly
formalizing common benchmark examples from the literature of actual causality.
A definition of cause is presented and used to analyze the actual causes of
changes with respect to sequences of actions representing those examples.Comment: Under consideration for publication in Theory and Practice of Logic
Programmin
Attributions as Behavior Explanations: Toward a New Theory
Attribution theory has played a major role in social-psychological research. Unfortunately, the term attribution is ambiguous. According to one meaning, forming an attribution is making a dispositional (trait) inference from behavior; according to another meaning, forming an attribution is giving an explanation (especially of behavior). The focus of this paper is on the latter phenomenon of behavior explanations. In particular, I discuss a new theory of explanation that provides an alternative to classic attribution theory as it dominates the textbooks and handbooks—which is typically as a version of Kelley’s (1967) model of attribution as covariation detection. I begin with a brief critique of this theory and, out of this critique, develop a list of requirements that an improved theory has to meet. I then introduce the new theory, report empirical data in its support, and apply it to a number of psychological phenomena. I finally conclude with an assessment of how much progress we have made in understanding behavior explanations and what has yet to be learned
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