Linear logic in a refutational setting

Abstract

Abstract Sequent-style refutation calculi with non-invertible rules are challenging to design because multiple proof-search strategies need to be simultaneously verified. In this paper, we present a refutation calculus for the multiplicative–additive fragment of linear logic ($\textsf{MALL}$) whose binary rule for the multiplicative conjunction $(\otimes )$ and the unary rule for the additive disjunction $(\oplus )$ fail invertibility. Specifically, we design a cut-free hypersequent calculus $\textsf{HMALL}$, which is equivalent to $\textsf{MALL}$, and obtained by transforming the usual tree-like shape of derivations into a parallel and linear structure. Next, we develop a refutation calculus $\overline{\textsf{HMALL}}$ based on the calculus $\textsf{HMALL}$. As far as we know, this is also the first refutation calculus for a substructural logic. Finally, we offer a fractional semantics for $\textsf{MALL}$—whereby its formulas are interpreted by a rational number in the closed interval [0, 1] —thus extending to the substructural landscape the project of fractional semantics already pursued for classical and modal logics.