Change, Choice and Inference: A Study of Belief Revision and Nonmonotonic Reasoning

by Hans Rott

Overview

Change, Choice and Inference develops logical theories that are necessary both for the understanding of adaptable human reasoning and for the design of intelligent systems. The book shows that reasoning processes - the drawing on inferences and changing one's beliefs - can be viewed as belonging to the realm of practical reason by embedding logical theories into the broader context of the theory of rational choice. The book unifies lively and significant strands of research in logic, philosophy, economics and artificial intelligence. It elaborates on the relevant theories and provides a mathematically precise foundation for the thesis that large parts of theoretical reason can be subsumed under practical reason.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198503064
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/13/2001
Series:	Oxford Logic Guides , #42
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

University of Regensburg, Germany

Table of Contents

0. Overview1. Doxastic States and Their Representation2. Epistemology and Belief Change3. Changing Doxastic States: Two Complementary Perspectives4. Concepts of Theoretical Rationality: Postulates for Belief Change and Nonmonotonic Reasoning5. Foundational Belief Change Using Nonmonotonic Inference6. A General Concept of Practical Rationality: Constraints for Coherent Choice7. Coherentist Belief Change as a Problem of Rational8. Revealed Preferences: Understanding the Theory of Epistemic EntrenchmentAppendices A; B; C; D; EReferencesIndex of SymbolsIndex of NamesSubject Index

Editorial Reviews

"This is an ambitious book. ... concise and very useful ... very valuable as a reference source. ... The proofs of all theorems are placed in appendices, amounting to nearly a hundred rigorously presented pages. ... The volume can be warmly recommended for use in courses on belief revision and nonmonotonic reasoning, whether as a principal text ... or for collateral reading and reference."—Mathematical Reviews

From the Publisher