Designing Normative Theories for Ethical and Legal Reasoning: LogiKEy Framework, Methodology, and Tool Support

A framework and methodology---termed LogiKEy---for the design and engineering of ethical reasoners, normative theories and deontic logics is presented. The overall motivation is the development of suitable means for the control and governance of intelligent autonomous systems. LogiKEy's unifying formal framework is based on semantical embeddings of deontic logics, logic combinations and ethico-legal domain theories in expressive classic higher-order logic (HOL). This meta-logical approach enables the provision of powerful tool support in LogiKEy: off-the-shelf theorem provers and model finders for HOL are assisting the LogiKEy designer of ethical intelligent agents to flexibly experiment with underlying logics and their combinations, with ethico-legal domain theories, and with concrete examples---all at the same time. Continuous improvements of these off-the-shelf provers, without further ado, leverage the reasoning performance in LogiKEy. Case studies, in which the LogiKEy framework and methodology has been applied and tested, give evidence that HOL's undecidability often does not hinder efficient experimentation.Comment: 50 pages; 10 figure

First Experiments with a Flexible Infrastructure for Normative Reasoning

A flexible infrastructure for normative reasoning is outlined. A small-scale demonstrator version of the envisioned system has been implemented in the proof assistant Isabelle/HOL by utilising the first authors universal logical reasoning approach based on shallow semantical embeddings in meta-logic HOL. The need for such a flexible reasoning infrastructure is motivated and illustrated with a contrary-to-duty example scenario selected from the General Data Protection Regulation.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

I/O Logic in HOL --- First Steps

A semantical embedding of input/output logic in classical higher-order logic is presented. This embedding enables the mechanisation and automation of reasoning tasks in input/output logic with off-the-shelf higher-order theorem provers and proof assistants. The key idea for the solution presented here results from the analysis of an inaccurate previous embedding attempt, which we will discuss as well.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Normative Conditional Reasoning as a Fragment of HOL

We report some results regarding the mechanization of normative (preference-based) conditional reasoning. Our focus is on Aqvist's system E for conditional obligation (and its extensions). Our mechanization is achieved via a shallow semantical embedding in Isabelle/HOL. We consider two possible uses of the framework. The first one is as a tool for meta-reasoning about the considered logic. We employ it for the automated verification of deontic correspondences (broadly conceived) and related matters, analogous to what has been previously achieved for the modal logic cube. The second use is as a tool for assessing ethical arguments. We provide a computer encoding of a well-known paradox in population ethics, Parfit's repugnant conclusion. Whether the presented encoding increases or decreases the attractiveness and persuasiveness of the repugnant conclusion is a question we would like to pass on to philosophy and ethics.Comment: 22 pages, 28 figures, 3 table

Normative Conditional Reasoning as a Fragment of HOL

We report some results regarding the mechanization of normative (preference-based) conditional reasoning. Our focus is on Aqvist's system E for conditional obligation (and its extensions). Our mechanization is achieved via a shallow semantical embedding in Isabelle/HOL. We consider two possible uses of the framework. The first one is as a tool for meta-reasoning about the considered logic. We employ it for the automated verification of deontic correspondences (broadly conceived) and related matters, analogous to what has been previously achieved for the modal logic cube. The second use is as a tool for assessing ethical arguments. We provide a computer encoding of a well-known paradox in population ethics, Parfit's repugnant conclusion. Whether the presented encoding increases or decreases the attractiveness and persuasiveness of the repugnant conclusion is a question we would like to pass on to philosophy and ethics

The Two Faces of Algorithmic Management in the Gig Economy

Algorithmic management of workers is a relatively new phenomenon which impacts workers in diverse manners. The growing literature on this disruptive and technology-mediated form of management suggest that, through different mechanisms, it can result in both beneficial and harmful consequences. Aiming to examine these two faces empirically and simultaneously, time-lagged data was collected from 366 gig workers. The results show that, on the one hand, high perceived exposure to AM is associated to greater perceived procedural justice. On the other hand, workers reporting high AM exposure also perceive lower job autonomy. This has the simultaneous effect of indirectly fostering and worsening the level of gig workers\u27 engagement

Dyadic Deontic Logic in HOL : Faithful Embedding and Meta-Theoretical Experiments

A shallow semantical embedding of a dyadic deontic logic by Carmo and Jones in classical higher-order logic is presented. The embedding is proven sound and complete, that is, faithful. This result provides the theoretical foundation for the implementation and automation of dyadic deontic logic within off-the-shelf higher-order theorem provers and proof assistants. To demonstrate the practical relevance of our contribution, the embedding has been encoded in the Isabelle/HOL proof assistant. As a result a sound and complete (interactive and automated) theorem prover for the dyadic deontic logic of Carmo and Jones has been obtained. Experiments have been conducted which illustrate how the exploration and assessment of meta-theoretical properties of the embedded logic can be supported with automated reasoning tools integrated with Isabelle/HOL

Faithful Semantical Embedding of a Dyadic Deontic Logic in HOL

A shallow semantical embedding of a dyadic deontic logic by Carmo and Jones in classical higher-order logic is presented. This embedding is proven sound and complete, that is, faithful. The work presented here provides the theoretical foundation for the implementation and automation of dyadic deontic logic within off-the-shelf higher-order theorem provers and proof assistants.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

Introduction to the Special Issue on Logic Rules and Reasoning: Selected Papers from the 2nd International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning (RuleML+RR 2018)

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