Constrained Value-Based Argumentation Framework

Abstract

Value-based argumentation framework (VAF) is an extension of Dung argumentation framework where arguments promote specific values. In VAF, an argument a defeats b only if the value promoted by b is not preferred than the value promoted by a according to some total ordering on values given by a specific audience. However, despite the interesting idea of considering the preference relation between arguments’ values, VAF does not offer a way to express further requirements, like “no arguments promoting expensive value” or “if we accept arguments promoting expensive value, then we accept arguments promoting healthy value”. This paper extends VAF by incorporating some constraints, expressed as propositional formulas on either the arguments’ values or on the arguments. We propose two inference relations for defining some acceptability semantics in such constrained value-based argumentation framework (CVAF). The first inference relation is more prudent than the second one since it derives less arguments.