A QBF-based Formalization of Abstract Argumentation Semantics

Supported by the National Research Fund, Luxembourg (LAAMI project) and by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK), grant ref. EP/J012084/1 (SAsSY project).Peer reviewedPostprin

Automatic Generation of Proof Tactics for Finite-Valued Logics

A number of flexible tactic-based logical frameworks are nowadays available that can implement a wide range of mathematical theories using a common higher-order metalanguage. Used as proof assistants, one of the advantages of such powerful systems resides in their responsiveness to extensibility of their reasoning capabilities, being designed over rule-based programming languages that allow the user to build her own `programs to construct proofs' - the so-called proof tactics. The present contribution discusses the implementation of an algorithm that generates sound and complete tableau systems for a very inclusive class of sufficiently expressive finite-valued propositional logics, and then illustrates some of the challenges and difficulties related to the algorithmic formation of automated theorem proving tactics for such logics. The procedure on whose implementation we will report is based on a generalized notion of analyticity of proof systems that is intended to guarantee termination of the corresponding automated tactics on what concerns theoremhood in our targeted logics

Proof Theory of Finite-valued Logics

The proof theory of many-valued systems has not been investigated to an extent comparable to the work done on axiomatizatbility of many-valued logics. Proof theory requires appropriate formalisms, such as sequent calculus, natural deduction, and tableaux for classical (and intuitionistic) logic. One particular method for systematically obtaining calculi for all finite-valued logics was invented independently by several researchers, with slight variations in design and presentation. The main aim of this report is to develop the proof theory of finite-valued first order logics in a general way, and to present some of the more important results in this area. In Systems covered are the resolution calculus, sequent calculus, tableaux, and natural deduction. This report is actually a template, from which all results can be specialized to particular logics

On Tackling the Limits of Resolution in SAT Solving

The practical success of Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) solvers stems from the CDCL (Conflict-Driven Clause Learning) approach to SAT solving. However, from a propositional proof complexity perspective, CDCL is no more powerful than the resolution proof system, for which many hard examples exist. This paper proposes a new problem transformation, which enables reducing the decision problem for formulas in conjunctive normal form (CNF) to the problem of solving maximum satisfiability over Horn formulas. Given the new transformation, the paper proves a polynomial bound on the number of MaxSAT resolution steps for pigeonhole formulas. This result is in clear contrast with earlier results on the length of proofs of MaxSAT resolution for pigeonhole formulas. The paper also establishes the same polynomial bound in the case of modern core-guided MaxSAT solvers. Experimental results, obtained on CNF formulas known to be hard for CDCL SAT solvers, show that these can be efficiently solved with modern MaxSAT solvers

Boole's Method I. A Modern Version

A rigorous, modern version of Boole's algebra of logic is presented, based partly on the 1890s treatment of Ernst Schroder

An Overview of Backtrack Search Satisfiability Algorithms

Propositional Satisfiability (SAT) is often used as the underlying model for a significan

Grafting Hypersequents onto Nested Sequents

We introduce a new Gentzen-style framework of grafted hypersequents that combines the formalism of nested sequents with that of hypersequents. To illustrate the potential of the framework, we present novel calculi for the modal logics $\mathsf{K5}$ and $\mathsf{KD5}$, as well as for extensions of the modal logics $\mathsf{K}$ and $\mathsf{KD}$ with the axiom for shift reflexivity. The latter of these extensions is also known as $\mathsf{SDL}^+$ in the context of deontic logic. All our calculi enjoy syntactic cut elimination and can be used in backwards proof search procedures of optimal complexity. The tableaufication of the calculi for $\mathsf{K5}$ and $\mathsf{KD5}$ yields simplified prefixed tableau calculi for these logic reminiscent of the simplified tableau system for $\mathsf{S5}$, which might be of independent interest