2007/01/01 by Rodger Kibble, Kibble, Rodger
Computer Science · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Game Theory and Voting Systems #Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge #Multi-Agent Systems and Negotiation #Norms #agents #reasoning #social commitments
paper · doi:10.4230/dagsemproc.07122.19
openalex publication_date 2007/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
It is argued that norms are best understood as classes of constraints on practical reasoning, which an agent may consult either to select appropriate goals or commitments according to the circumstances, or to construct a discursive justification for a course of action after the event. We also discuss the question of how norm-conformance can be enforced in an open agent society, arguing that some form of peer pressure is needed in open agent societies lacking universally-recognised rules or any accepted authority structure. The paper includes formal specifications of some data structures that may be employed in reasoning about normative agents.