Abstract
We describe a new way in which theories about the deontic status of actions can be represented in terms of the standard two-sorted first-order extensional predicate calculus. Some of the resulting formal theories are easy to implement in Prolog; one prototype implementation—R. M. Lee's deontic expert shell DX—is briefly described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aqvist, L., 1984, ‘Deontic logic’, In D. Gabbay and F. Günthner, editors, Handbook of Philosophical Logic, Vol. II: Extensions of Classical Logic, 605–714, Reidel, Dordrecht.
Chellas, B. F., 1992, ‘Time and modality in the logic of agency’, Studia Logica 51, 485–517.
Davidson, D., 1980, Essays on Actions and Events, chapter The Logical Form of Action Sentences (1967), 105–122. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Hughes, G. E., and M. J. Cresswell, 1968, An Introduction to Modal Logic, Methuen, London.
Lee, R. M., 1992, DX: A deontic expert system. Working Paper 1992.10.01, Erasmus University Research Institute for Decision and Information Systems (EURIDIS), Rotterdam.
Lloyd, J. W., 1987, Foundations of Logic Programming, second edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, R. M., 1981, Logico-Linguistic Papers, chapter On the Analysis of Action Sentences, 155–169. Foris, Dordrecht.
Mendelson, E., 1970, Boolean Algebra and Switching Circuits, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Meyer, J. J. Ch., 1988, ‘A different approach to deontic logic: Deontic logic viewed as a variant of dynamic logic’, Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 29, 109–136.
Ong, K. L., and R. M. Lee, 1993, A formal model for maintaining consistency of evolving bureaucratic policies: A logical and abductive approach. Research Monograph 1993.01.01, Erasmus University Research Institute for Decision and Information Systems (EURIDIS), Rotterdam.
Reichenbach, H., 1947, Elements of Symbolic Logic, Macmillan, New York.
Ryu, Y. U., and R. M. Lee, 1992, Defeasible deontic reasoning and its applications to normative systems. Working Paper 1992.07.01, Erasmus University Research Institute for Decision and Information Systems (EURIDIS), Rotterdam.
Ryu, Y. U., and R. M. Lee, 1992, A formal representation of normative systems. Research Monograph 1992.08.01, Erasmus University Research Institute for Decision and Information Systems (EURIDIS), Rotterdam.
Royakkers, L. M. M., 1993, Predikatieve deonlische logica. Master's thesis, Technische Universiteit, Eindhoven.
Segerberg, K., 1982, ‘A deontic logic of action’, Studia Logica 41, 269–282.
Segerberg, K., 1984, ‘A topological logic of action’, Studia Logica 43, 415–419.
von Wright, G. H., 1951, ‘Deontic logic’, Mind 60, 1–15.
von Wright, G. H., 1971, Norm and Action: A Logical Enquiry, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was partially supported by the Esprit III Basic Research Working Group No. 8319 ModelAge.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lokhorst, G.J.C. Reasoning about actions and obligations in first-order logic. Stud Logica 57, 221–237 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370676
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370676