Computing Presuppositions by Contextual Reasoning

This paper describes how automated deduction methods for natural language processing can be applied more efficiently by encoding context in a more elaborate way. Our work is based on formal approaches to context, and we provide a tableau calculus for contextual reasoning. This is explained by considering an example from the problem area of presupposition projection.Comment: 5 page

Designing Self-Modifying Agents

Agents need to be able to adapt to changes in their environment. One way to achieve this, is to provide agents with the ability of self-modification. Self-modification requires reflection and strategies with which new knowledge can be acquired, a necessary condition for creativity. This paper describes a knowledge-level model for the design of self-modifying agents and explores the feasibility of automatically designing self-modifying agents

Strategies for integrating multiple viewpoints and levels of detail

Automated design requires explicit representation of strategic knowledge. This paper focuses on strategic knowledge needed to reason with and about viewpoints during the design of a software agent. Reasoning with and about viewpoints entails not only deciding which viewpoint to consider when and in which context, but also at which level of detail. In this paper an information retrieval agent is used to illustrate how these types of knowledge can be used to design software agents

Modelling causal reasoning

PhDAlthough human causal reasoning is widely acknowledged as an object of scientific enquiry, there is little consensus on an appropriate measure of progress. Up-to-date evidence of the standard method of research in the field shows that this method has been rejected at the birth of modern science. We describe an instance of the standard scientific method for modelling causal reasoning (causal calculators). The method allows for uniform proofs of three relevant computational properties: correctness of the model with respect to the intended model, full abstraction of the model (function) with respect to the equivalence of reasoning scenarios (input), and formal relations of equivalence and subsumption between models. The method extends and exploits the systematic paradigm [Handbook of Logic in Artificial Intelligence and Logic Programming, volume IV, p. 439-498, Oxford 1995] to fit with our interpretation of it. Using the described method, we present results for some major models, with an updated summary spanning seventy-two years of research in the field

Imperfectivity and Progressivity: The French Imparfait

No abstract

Contexts and situations

Ankara : Department of Computer Engineering and Information Science and the Institute of Engineering and Science of Bilkent Univer., 1994.Thesis (Master's) -- -Bilkent University, 1994.Includes bibliographical references leaves 63-68The issue of context arises in assorted areas of Artificial Intelligence, Mathematical Logic, and Natural Language Semantics. Although its importance is realized by various researchers, there is not much work towards a useful formalization. In this thesis, we will try to identify the problem, and decide what we need for an acceptable (formal) account of the notion of context. We will present a preliminary model (based on Situation Theory) and give examples to show the use of context in various fields, and the advantages gained by the acceptance of our proposal.Surav, MehmetM.S

Situated modeling of epistemic puzzles

Ankara : The Department of Computer Engineering and Information Science and the Institute of Engineering and Science of Bilkent Univ., 1994.Thesis (Master's) -- -Bilkent University, 1994.Includes bibliographical references leaves 67-72Situation theory is a mathematical theory of meaning introduced by Jon Barwise and John Perry. It has evoked great theoretical and practical interest and motivated the framework of a few ‘computational’ systems. PROSIT is the pioneering work in this direction. Unfortunately, there is a lack of reallife applications on these systems and this study is a preliminary attempt to remedy this deficiency. Here, we examine how much PROSIT reflects situationtheoretic concepts and solve a group of epistemic puzzles, using the constructs provided by this programming language.Ersan, MuratM.S

Metatextile: Identity and History of a Contemporary Art Medium

Today, the relevance of the textile medium as a technique, material, and metaphor in contemporary art, architecture, and criticism is growing. Nonetheless, the rise of textiles as a prominent medium of art since the 1990s has not been subjected to comprehensive historical and theoretical reflection thus far. The present volume attempts to map out some of the many meanings and functions of textiles in contemporary art so as to articulate a “metatextile” theory or a “textile discourse”. The authors discuss such central aspects of the contemporary textile medium as narrative, identity, myth, clothing, technology, deviance, faith, gender, architecture, reproduction, ornament, anthropology, postcolonialism, phenomenology, and historiography. The present collection of essays in English, German and French aims to contribute to a new discussion on the textile medium, its identity and history

Apports de la logique mathématique en ingénierie des exigences

This thesis deals with requirements engineering (RE). RE characterizes the process leading to consistent set of specifications about some product. We have identified three distinct phases in RE process: requirements modelling, inconsistency management and requirements distribution. In the modelling phase, we have used CO, a logic of preferences, which has allowed us to express each agent's requirements in an ordonned way, but also domain constraints and complex normative sentences. We have then defined the notion of consistency between those three notions. Concerning the possible conflicts between requirements emitted by different agents, we have developped MF, a modal logic allowing to reason on belief bases obtained by majority merging. We have also developped Prolog automatic prover for MF. We have then shown that our approach allows to reason on ordonned or unordonned requirements sets. Finally, we have proposed to include in the RE process a distribution phase. The requirements are distributed among a set of executive agents. We have defined a simple model of agency from which we can derive the agent's goals. We have then extended this approach to multiagents systems and defined a distribution model based on a central entity controlling the distribution process