Cut-elimination Research Articles

Combining First-Order Classical and Intuitionistic Logic

This paper studies a first-order expansion of a combination C+J of intuitionistic and classical propositional logic, which was studied by Humberstone (1979) and del Cerro and Herzig (1996), from a proof-theoretic viewpoint. While C+J has both classical and intuitionistic implications, our first-order expansion adds classical and intuitionistic universal quantifiers and one existential quantifier to C+J. This paper provides a multi-succedent sequent calculus G(FOC+J) for our combination of the first-order intuitionistic and classical logic. Our sequent calculus G(FOC+J) restricts contexts of the right rules for intuitionistic implication and intuitionistic universal quantifier to particular forms of formulas. The cut-elimination theorem is established to ensure the subformula property. As a corollary, G(FOC+J) is conservative over both first-order intuitionistic and classical logic. Strong completeness of G(FOC+J) is proved via a canonical model argument.

Proof Theory of Riesz Spaces and Modal Riesz Spaces

We design hypersequent calculus proof systems for the theories of Riesz spaces and modal Riesz spaces and prove the key theorems: soundness, completeness and cut elimination. These are then used to obtain completely syntactic proofs of some interesting results concerning the two theories. Most notably, we prove a novel result: the theory of modal Riesz spaces is decidable. This work has applications in the field of logics of probabilistic programs since modal Riesz spaces provide the algebraic semantics of the Riesz modal logic underlying the probabilistic mu-calculus.

Calculi, countermodel generation and theorem prover for strong logics of counterfactual reasoning

AbstractWe present hypersequent calculi for the strongest logics in Lewis’ family of conditional systems, characterized by uniformity and total reflexivity. We first present a non-standard hypersequent calculus, which allows a syntactic proof of cut elimination. We then introduce standard hypersequent calculi, in which sequents are enriched by additional structures to encode plausibility formulas and diamond formulas. Proof search using these calculi is terminating, and the completeness proof shows how a countermodel can be constructed from a branch of a failed proof search. We then describe tuCLEVER, a theorem prover that implements the standard hypersequent calculi. The prover provides a decision procedure for the logics, and it produces a countermodel in case of proof search failure. The prover tuCLEVER is inspired by the methodology of leanTAP and it is implemented in Prolog. Preliminary experimental results show that the performances of tuCLEVER are promising.1

The number of axioms

We derive results concerning the least possible number of distinct axioms in proofs in classical and intuitionistic sequent calculi and other related systems. In particular, we show that there is no recursive bound on the least possible number of distinct axioms in a proof of a provable sequent in terms of the sequent's length, and that there is no elementary bound on the least possible number of axioms in a cut-free proof of a provable sequent in terms of the least possible length of an arbitrary proof thereof, strengthening a classical result due to Orevkov and Statman.

Super Exponentials in Linear Logic

Following the idea of Subexponential Linear Logic and Stratified Bounded Linear Logic, we propose a new parameterized version of Linear Logic which subsumes other systems like ELL, LLL or SLL, by including variants of the exponential rules. We call this system Superexponential Linear Logic (superLL). Assuming some appropriate constraints on the parameters of superLL, we give a generic proof of cut elimination. This implies that each variant of Linear Logic which appears as a valid instance of superLL also satisfies cut elimination.

An application of parallel cut elimination in multiplicative linear logic to the Taylor expansion of proof nets

We examine some combinatorial properties of parallel cut elimination in multiplicative linear logic (MLL) proof nets. We show that, provided we impose a constraint on some paths, we can bound the size of all the nets satisfying this constraint and reducing to a fixed resultant net. This result gives a sufficient condition for an infinite weighted sum of nets to reduce into another sum of nets, while keeping coefficients finite. We moreover show that our constraints are stable under reduction. Our approach is motivated by the quantitative semantics of linear logic: many models have been proposed, whose structure reflect the Taylor expansion of multiplicative exponential linear logic (MELL) proof nets into infinite sums of differential nets. In order to simulate one cut elimination step in MELL, it is necessary to reduce an arbitrary number of cuts in the differential nets of its Taylor expansion. It turns out our results apply to differential nets, because their cut elimination is essentially multiplicative. We moreover show that the set of differential nets that occur in the Taylor expansion of an MELL net automatically satisfies our constraints. Interestingly, our nets are untyped: we only rely on the sequentiality of linear logic nets and the dynamics of cut elimination. The paths on which we impose bounds are the switching paths involved in the Danos--Regnier criterion for sequentiality. In order to accommodate multiplicative units and weakenings, our nets come equipped with jumps: each weakening node is connected to some other node. Our constraint can then be summed up as a bound on both the length of switching paths, and the number of weakenings that jump to a common node.

S5-Style Non-Standard Modalities in a Hypersequent Framework

The aim of the paper is to present some non-standard modalities (such as non-contingency, contingency, essence and accident) based on S5-models in a framework of cut-free hypersequent calculi. We also study negated modalities, i.e. negated necessity and negated possibility, which produce paraconsistent and paracomplete negations respectively. As a basis for our calculi, we use Restall's cut-free hypersequent calculus for S5. We modify its rules for the above-mentioned modalities and prove strong soundness and completeness theorems by a Hintikka-style argument. As a consequence, we obtain a cut admissibility theorem. Finally, we present a constructive syntactic proof of cut elimination theorem.

A note on cut-elimination for classical propositional logic

In Schwichtenberg (Studies in logic and the foundations of mathematics, vol 90, Elsevier, pp 867–895, 1977), Schwichtenberg fine-tuned Tait’s technique (Tait in The syntax and semantics of infinitary languages, Springer, pp 204–236, 1968) so as to provide a simplified version of Gentzen’s original cut-elimination procedure for first-order classical logic (Gallier in Logic for computer science: foundations of automatic theorem proving, Courier Dover Publications, London, 2015). In this note we show that, limited to the case of classical propositional logic, the Tait–Schwichtenberg algorithm allows for a further simplification. The procedure offered here is implemented on Kleene’s sequent system G4 (Kleene in Mathematical logic, Wiley, New York, 1967; Smullyan in First-order logic, Courier corporation, London, 1995). The specific formulation of the logical rules for G4 allows us to provide bounds on the height of cut-free proofs just in terms of the logical complexity of their end-sequent.

Infinitary action logic with exponentiation

We introduce infinitary action logic with exponentiation—that is, the multiplicative-additive Lambek calculus extended with Kleene star and with a family of subexponential modalities, which allow some of the structural rules (contraction, weakening, permutation). The logic is presented in the form of an infinitary sequent calculus. We prove cut elimination and, in the case where at least one subexponential allows non-local contraction, establish exact complexity boundaries in two senses. First, we show that the derivability problem for this logic is Π11-complete. Second, we show that the closure ordinal of its derivability operator is ω1CK. In the case where no subexponential allows contraction, we show that complexity is the same as for infinitary action logic itself. Namely, the derivability problem in this case is Π10-complete and the closure ordinal is not greater than ωω.

Schema Complexity in Propositional-Based Logics

The essential structure of derivations is used as a tool for measuring the complexity of schema consequences in propositional-based logics. Our schema derivations allow the use of schema lemmas and this is reflected on the schema complexity. In particular, the number of times a schema lemma is used in a derivation is not relevant. We also address the application of metatheorems and compare the complexity of a schema derivation after eliminating the metatheorem and before doing so. As illustrations, we consider a propositional modal logic presented by a Hilbert calculus and an intuitionist propositional logic presented by a Gentzen calculus. For the former, we discuss the use of the metatheorem of deduction and its elimination, and for the latter, we analyze the cut and its elimination. Furthermore, we capitalize on the result for the cut elimination for intuitionistic logic, to obtain a similar result for Nelson’s logic via a language translation.

A Binary Quantifier for Definite Descriptions for Cut Free Free Logics

This paper presents rules in sequent calculus for a binary quantifier I to formalise definite descriptions: Ix[F, G] means ‘The F is G’. The rules are suitable to be added to a system of positive free logic. The paper extends the proof of a cut elimination theorem for this system by Indrzejczak by proving the cases for the rules of I. There are also brief comparisons of the present approach to the more common one that formalises definite descriptions with a term forming operator. In the final section rules for I for negative free and classical logic are also mentioned.

Temporal prophecy for proving temporal properties of infinite-state systems

Various verification techniques for temporal properties transform temporal verification to safety verification. For infinite-state systems, these transformations are inherently imprecise. That is, for some instances, the temporal property holds, but the resulting safety property does not. This paper introduces a mechanism for tackling this imprecision. This mechanism, which we call temporal prophecy, is inspired by prophecy variables. Temporal prophecy refines an infinite-state system using first-order linear temporal logic formulas, via a suitable tableau construction. For a specific liveness-to-safety transformation based on first-order logic, we show that using temporal prophecy strictly increases the precision. Furthermore, temporal prophecy leads to robustness of the proof method, which is manifested by a cut elimination theorem. We integrate our approach into the Ivy deductive verification system, and show that it can handle challenging temporal verification examples.

Neighbourhood semantics and labelled calculus for intuitionistic infinitary logic

Abstract Neighbourhood semantics for intuitionistic logic extended with countable conjunctions and disjunctions is introduced and shown equivalent to topological semantics, with an indirect completeness proof as payoff. The new semantics is used to obtain a labelled sequent calculus with good structural properties. In particular, admissibility of weakening and contraction, invertibility with preservation of height for each rule and cut elimination are shown. Finally, a direct Tait–Schütte–Takeuti style form of completeness via the extraction of a countermodel from a failed proof search is proved.

RUSSELLIAN DEFINITE DESCRIPTION THEORY—A PROOF THEORETIC APPROACH

AbstractThe paper provides a proof theoretic characterization of the Russellian theory of definite descriptions (RDD) as characterized by Kalish, Montague and Mar (KMM). To this effect three sequent calculi are introduced: LKID0, LKID1 and LKID2. LKID0 is an auxiliary system which is easily shown to be equivalent to KMM. The main research is devoted to LKID1 and LKID2. The former is simpler in the sense of having smaller number of rules and, after small change, satisfies cut elimination but fails to satisfy the subformula property. In LKID2 an additional analysis of different kinds of identities leads to proliferation of rules but yields the subformula property. This refined proof theoretic analysis leading to fully analytic calculus with constructive proof of cut elimination is the main contribution of the paper.

Cut elimination for knowledge logic with interaction

In the article the multimodal logic Tn with central agent interaction axiom is analysed. The Hilbert type calculi is presented, then Gentzen type calculi with cut is derived and the proof of cutelimination theorem is outlined. The work shows that it is possible to construct a Gentzen type calculi without cut for this logic.

Calculi for Many-Valued Logics

We present a number of equivalent calculi for many-valued logics and prove soundness and strong completeness theorems. The calculi are obtained from the truth tables of the logic under consideration in a straightforward manner and there is a natural duality among these calculi. We also prove the cut elimination theorems for the sequent-like systems.

Towards a proof theory for quantifier macros

This paper focuses on globally sound but possibly locally unsound analytic sequent calculi for quantifier macros defined by sequences of quantifiers. It is demonstrated that no locally sound analytic representation based on the usual eigenvariable condition exists. In consequence, representations by globally sound but possibly locally unsound analytic sequent calculi are used. Cut-elimination is shown by translating proofs into LK and retranslating cut-free proofs into the desired format. Finally, criteria are given for sequents to be proved without reference to the extended eigenvariable conditions.

Non-normal modal logics and conditional logics: Semantic analysis and proof theory

We introduce proper display calculi for basic monotonic modal logic, the conditional logic CK and a number of their axiomatic extensions. These calculi are sound, complete, conservative, and enjoy cut elimination and subformula property. Our proposal applies the multi-type methodology in the design of proper display calculi, starting from a semantic analysis which motivates syntactic translations from single-type non-normal modal logics to multi-type normal poly-modal logics.

First-order logic as a constraint satisfaction problem

In this paper, we discourse an analysis of classical first-order predicate logic as a constraint satisfaction problem, CSP. First, we will offer our general framework for CSPs, and then apply it to first-order logic. We claim it would function as a new semantics, constraint semantics, for logic. Then, we prove the soundness and completeness theorems with respect to the constraint semantics. The latter theorem, which will be proven by a proof-search method, implies the cut-elimination theorem. Furthermore, using the constraint semantics, we make a new proof of the Craig interpolation theorem. Also, we will provide feasible algorithms to generate interpolants for some decidable fragments of first-order logic: the propositional logic and the monadic fragments. The algorithms, reflecting a ‘projection’ of an indexed relation, will show how to transform given formulas syntactically to obtain interpolants.

Corrigendum to: Frame definability, canonicity and cut elimination in common sense modal predicate logics

Corrigendum to: Frame definability, canonicity and cut elimination in common sense modal predicate logics