Skip to main content
Log in

Retraction and Revocation in Agent Deliberation Dialogs

  • Published:
Argumentation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present a generic denotational semantic framework for protocols for dialogs between rational and autonomous agents over action which allows for retraction and revocation of proposals for action. The semantic framework views participants in a deliberation dialog as jointly and incrementally manipulating the contents of shared spaces of action-intention tokens. The framework extends prior work by decoupling the identity of an agent who first articulates a proposal for action from the identity of any agent then empowered to retract or revoke the proposal, thereby permitting proposals, entreaties, commands, promises, etc., to be distinguished semantically.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amgoud, L., N. Maudet and S. Parsons: 2000, ‹Modelling Dialogues Using Argumentation’, in E. Durfee (ed.), Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Multi-Agent Systems (ICMAS 2000), IEEE Press, Boston, MA, pp. 31–38

  • Austin J. L. (1962) How to do Things with Words. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bench-Capon T. J. M., Geldard T., Leng P. H. (2000) A Method for the Computational Modelling of Dialectical Argument with Dialogue Games. Artificial Intelligence and Law 8:233–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bratu, M., J. M. Andreoli, O. Boissier and S. Castellani: 2002, ‹A Software Infrastructure for Negotiation within Inter-organisational Alliances’, in J. Padget, D. C. Parkes, N.␣M. Sadeh, O. Shehory and W. E. Walsh (eds.), AMEC-IV: Designing Mechanisms and Systems, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence 2531. Springer, Berlin, pp.␣161–179

  • Colombetti, M. and M. Verdicchio: 2002, ‹An Analysis of Agent Speech Acts as Institutional Actions’, in C. Castelfranchi and W. L. Johnson (eds.), Proceedings of the First International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (AAMAS 2002), ACM Press, New York, pp. 1157–1164

  • FIPA: 2002, Communicative Act Library Specification (Standard SC00037J), Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents. Retrieved September 14, 2007 from http://www.fipa. org/specs/fipa00037/SC00037J.html

  • Gell A. (1998) Art and Agency: An Anthropological Theory. Clarendon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunter C. A. (1992) Semantics of Programming Languages: Structures and Techniques. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J.: 1984, The Theory of Communicative Action: Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society, Heinemann, London (translation by T. McCarthy of: Theorie des Kommunikativen Handelns, Band I, Handlungsrationalitat und gesellschaftliche Rationalisierung, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt, 1981)

  • Hamblin C. L. (1970) Fallacies. Methuen, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hitchcock, D.: 1991, ‹Some Principles of Rational Mutual Inquiry’, in F. van Eemeren, R.␣Grootendorst, J. A. Blair and C. A. Willard (eds.), Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Argumentation (ISSA 1991), SICSAT, Amsterdam, pp.␣236–243

  • Jennings N. R., Faratin P., Lomuscio A. R., Parsons S., Wooldridge M., Sierra C. (2001) Automated Negotiation: Prospects, Methods and Challenges. Group Decision and Negotiation 10:199–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M. W., P. McBurney and S. Parsons: 2003, ‹When are Two Protocols the Same?’, in M.-P. Huget (ed.), Communication in Multi-Agent Systems: Agent Communication Languages and Conversation Policies, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence 2650. Springer, Berlin, pp. 253–268

  • Kamp H., Reyle U. (1993) From Discourse to Logic: Introduction to Modeltheoretic Semantics of Natural Language, Formal Logic and Discourse Representation Theory. Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Krabbe E. C. W. (2001) The Problem of Retraction in Critical Discussion. Synthese 127:141–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mac Lane S. (1998) Categories for the Working Mathematician. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McBurney P., Parsons S. (2002) Games that Agents Play: A Formal Framework for Dialogues between Autonomous Agents. Journal of Logic, Language and Information 11:315–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBurney P. and S. Parsons: 2005a, ‹A Denotational Semantics for Deliberation Dialogues’, in I. Rahwan, P. Moraitis and C. Reed (eds.), Argumentation in Multi-Agent Systems, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence 3366. Springer, Berlin, pp. 162–175

  • McBurney P. and S. Parsons: 2005b, ‹Locutions for Argumentation in Agent Interaction Protocols’, in R. M. van Eijk, M.-P. Huget and F. Dignum (eds.), Developments in Agent Communication, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence 3396. Springer, Berlin, pp. 227–244

  • McBurney P., van Eijk R. M., Parsons S., Amgoud L. (2003) A Dialogue-Game Protocol for Agent Purchase Negotiations. Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 7:235–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Searle J. (1969) Speech Acts: An Essay in the Philosophy of Language. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh M. P. (1999) An Ontology for Commitments in Multiagent Systems: Toward a Unification of Normative Concepts. Artificial Intelligence and Law 7:97–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viroli, M. and A. Ricci: 2004, ‹Instructions-Based Semantics of Agent-Mediated Interaction’, in N. R. Jennings, C. Sierra, E. Sonenberg and M. Tambe (eds.), Proceedings of the Third International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (AAMAS 2004), ACM Press, New York, pp. 102–109

  • Walton D. N., Krabbe E. C. W. (1995) Commitment in Dialogue: Basic Concepts of Interpersonal Reasoning. State University of New York Press, Albany, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Wooldridge M. J. (2000) Semantic Issues in the Verification of Agent Communication Languages. Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3:9–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wooldridge M. J., Jennings N. R., Kinny D. (2000) The Gaia Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design. Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3:285–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter McBurney.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McBurney, P., Parsons, S. Retraction and Revocation in Agent Deliberation Dialogs. Argumentation 21, 269–289 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-007-9057-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-007-9057-8

Key words

Navigation