2013/01/23 by Leendert van der Torre, Leepdert van der Torre, van der Torre, Leendert +3
Computer Science · #Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Logic in Computer Science (cs.LO) #Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge #Multi-Agent Systems and Negotiation #Semantic Web and Ontologies #cs.AI #cs.LO
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1301.6743
Appears in Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (UAI1999)
arxiv created 2013/01/23 · openalex publication_date 2013/01/23 · arxiv updated 2013/01/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The deontic logic DUS is a Deontic Update Semantics for prescriptive obligations based on the update semantics of Veltman. In DUS the definition of logical validity of obligations is not based on static truth values but on dynamic action transitions. In this paper prescriptive defeasible obligations are formalized in update semantics and the diagnostic problem of defeasible deontic logic is discussed. Assume a defeasible obligation `normally A ought to be (done)' together withthe fact `A is not (done).' Is this an exception of the normality claim, or is it a violation of the obligation? In this paper we formalize the heuristic principle that it is a violation, unless there is a more specific overriding obligation. The underlying motivation from legal reasoning is that criminals should have as little opportunities as possible to excuse themselves by claiming that their behavior was exceptional rather than criminal.