Possibilistic Logic Programming Research Articles

Syntax and semantics of multi-adjoint normal logic programming

Multi-adjoint logic programming is a general framework with interesting features, which involves other positive logic programming frameworks such as monotonic and residuated logic programming, generalized annotated logic programs, fuzzy logic programming and possibilistic logic programming. One of the most interesting extensions of this framework is the possibility of considering a negation operator in the logic programs, which will improve its flexibility and the range of real applications. This paper introduces multi-adjoint normal logic programming, which is an extension of multi-adjoint logic programming including a negation operator in the underlying lattice. Beside the introduction of the syntax and semantics of this paradigm, we will provide sufficient conditions for the existence of stable models defined on a convex compact set of an euclidean space. Finally, we will consider a particular algebraic structure in which sufficient conditions can be given in order to ensure the unicity of stable models of multi-adjoint normal logic programs.

Reasoning with Inconsistent Possibilistic Ontologies by Applying Argument Accrual

We present an approach for performing instance checking in possibilistic description logic programming ontologies by accruing arguments that support the membership of individuals to concepts. Ontologies are interpreted as possibilistic logic programs where accruals of arguments as regarded as vertexes in an abstract argumentation framework. A suitable attack relation between accruals is defined. We present a reasoning framework with a case study and a Java-based implementation for enacting the proposed approach that is capable of reasoning under Dung’s grounded semantics.

Possibilistic nested logic programs and strong equivalence

In this paper, the class of possibilistic nested logic programs is introduced. These possibilistic logic programs allow us to use nested expressions in the bodies and heads of their rules. By considering a possibilistic nested logic program as a possibilistic theory, a construction of a possibilistic logic programing semantics based on answer sets for nested logic programs and the proof theory of possibilistic logic is defined. In order to define a general method for computing the possibilistic answer sets of a possibilistic nested program, the idea of equivalence between possibilistic nested programs is explored. By considering properties of equivalence between possibilistic programs, a process of transforming a possibilistic nested logic program into a possibilistic disjunctive logic program is defined. Given that our approach is an extension of answer set programming, we also explore the concept of strong equivalence between possibilistic nested logic programs. To this end, we introduce the concept of poss SE-models. Therefore, we show that two possibilistic nested logic programs are strong equivalents whenever they have the same poss SE-models.The expressiveness of the possibilistic nested logic programs is illustrated by a scenario from the medical domain. In particular, we exemplify how possibilistic nested logic programs are expressive enough for capturing medical guidelines which are pervaded by vagueness and qualitative information.

Agent-Based Reasoning in Medical Planning and Diagnosis Combining Multiple Strategies

Medical reasoning describes a form of qualitative inquiry that examines the cognitive (thought) processes involved in making medical decision. In this field the goal for diagnostic reasoning is assessing causes of observed conditions in order to make informed choices about treatment. In order to design a diagnostic reasoning method we merge ideas from a hypothetic-deductive method and the Domino model. In this setting, we introduce the so called Hypothetic-Deductive-Domino (HD-D) algorithm. In addition, a multi-agent approach is presented, which takes advantage of the HD-D algorithm for illuminating different standpoints in a diagnostic reasoning and assessment process, and for reaching a well-founded conclusion. This multi-agent approach is based on the so called Observer and Validating agents. The Observer agents are supported by a deductive inference process and the Validating agents are supported by an abductive inference process. The knowledge bases of these agents are captured by a class of possibilistic logic programs. Hence, these agents are able to deal with qualitative information. The approach is illustrated by a real scenario from diagnosing dementia diseases.

Possibilistic intermediate logic

We define what we call 'possibilistic intermediate logic (PIL)'; we present results analogous to those of the well-known intermediate logic, such as a deduction theorem, a generalised version of the deduction theorem, a cut rule, a weak version of a refutation theorem, a substitution theorem and Glivenko's theorem. Also, we present a definition for 'possibilistic safe beliefs'. This definition allows us to establish a relation between safe beliefs, as presented on 'applications of intuitionistic logic in answer set programming' by Osorio et al., and our version for possibilistic intermediate logic (PILX). We also present a characterisation of possibilistic safe beliefs for possibilistic normal logic programs.

Semantics for Possibilistic Disjunctive Programs

AbstractIn this paper, a possibilistic disjunctive logic programming approach for modeling uncertain, incomplete, and inconsistent information is defined. This approach introduces the use of possibilistic disjunctive clauses, which are able to capture incomplete information and states of a knowledge base at the same time. By considering a possibilistic logic program as a possibilistic logic theory, a construction of a possibilistic logic programming semantic based on answer sets and the proof theory of possibilistic logic is defined. It shows that this possibilistic semantics for disjunctive logic programs can be characterized by a fixed-point operator. It is also shown that the suggested possibilistic semantics can be computed by a resolution algorithm and the consideration of optimal refutations from a possibilistic logic theory. In order to manage inconsistent possibilistic logic programs, a preference criterion between inconsistent possibilistic models is defined. In addition, the approach of cuts for restoring consistency of an inconsistent possibilistic knowledge base is adopted. The approach is illustrated in a medical scenario.

The PITA system: Tabling and answer subsumption for reasoning under uncertainty

AbstractMany real world domains require the representation of a measure of uncertainty. The most common such representation is probability, and the combination of probability with logic programs has given rise to the field of Probabilistic Logic Programming (PLP), leading to languages such as the Independent Choice Logic, Logic Programs with Annotated Disjunctions (LPADs), Problog, PRISM, and others. These languages share a similar distribution semantics, and methods have been devised to translate programs between these languages. The complexity of computing the probability of queries to these general PLP programs is very high due to the need to combine the probabilities of explanations that may not be exclusive. As one alternative, the PRISM system reduces the complexity of query answering by restricting the form of programs it can evaluate. As an entirely different alternative, Possibilistic Logic Programs adopt a simpler metric of uncertainty than probability.Each of these approaches—general PLP, restricted PLP, and Possibilistic Logic Programming—can be useful in different domains depending on the form of uncertainty to be represented, on the form of programs needed to model problems, and on the scale of the problems to be solved. In this paper, we show how the PITA system, which originally supported the general PLP language of LPADs, can also efficiently support restricted PLP and Possibilistic Logic Programs. PITA relies on tabling with answer subsumption and consists of a transformation along with an API for library functions that interface with answer subsumption. We show that, by adapting its transformation and library functions, PITA can be parameterized to PITA(IND, EXC) which supports the restricted PLP of PRISM, including optimizations that reduce non-discriminating arguments and the computation of Viterbi paths. Furthermore, we show PITA to be competitive with PRISM for complex queries to Hidden Markov Model examples, and sometimes much faster. We further show how PITA can be parameterized to PITA(COUNT) which computes the number of different explanations for a subgoal, and to PITA(POSS) which scalably implements Possibilistic Logic Programming. PITA is a supported package in version 3.3 of XSB.

Formalizing argumentative reasoning in a possibilistic logic programming setting with fuzzy unification

Possibilistic Defeasible Logic Programming (P-DeLP) is a logic programming language which combines features from argumentation theory and logic programming, incorporating the treatment of possibilistic uncertainty at the object-language level. In spite of its expressive power, an important limitation in P-DeLP is that imprecise, fuzzy information cannot be expressed in the object language. One interesting alternative for solving this limitation is the use of PGL +, a possibilistic logic over Gödel logic extended with fuzzy constants. Fuzzy constants in PGL + allow expressing disjunctive information about the unknown value of a variable, in the sense of a magnitude, modelled as a (unary) predicate. The aim of this article is twofold: firstly, we formalize DePGL +, a possibilistic defeasible logic programming language that extends P-DeLP through the use of PGL + in order to incorporate fuzzy constants and a fuzzy unification mechanism for them. Secondly, we propose a way to handle conflicting arguments in the context of the extended framework.

An encompassing framework for Paraconsistent Logic Programs

We propose a framework which extends Antitonic Logic Programs [Damásio and Pereira, in: Proc. 6th Int. Conf. on Logic Programming and Nonmonotonic Reasoning, Springer, 2001, p. 748] to an arbitrary complete bilattice of truth-values, where belief and doubt are explicitly represented. Inspired by Ginsberg and Fitting's bilattice approaches, this framework allows a precise definition of important operators found in logic programming, such as explicit and default negation. In particular, it leads to a natural semantical integration of explicit and default negation through the Coherence Principle [Pereira and Alferes, in: European Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 1992, p. 102], according to which explicit negation entails default negation. We then define Coherent Answer Sets, and the Paraconsistent Well-founded Model semantics, generalizing many paraconsistent semantics for logic programs. In particular, Paraconsistent Well-Founded Semantics with eXplicit negation ( WFSX p ) [Alferes et al., J. Automated Reas. 14 (1) (1995) 93–147; Damásio, PhD thesis, 1996]. The framework is an extension of Antitonic Logic Programs for most cases, and is general enough to capture Probabilistic Deductive Databases, Possibilistic Logic Programming, Hybrid Probabilistic Logic Programs, and Fuzzy Logic Programming. Thus, we have a powerful mathematical formalism for dealing simultaneously with default, paraconsistency, and uncertainty reasoning. Results are provided about how our semantical framework deals with inconsistent information and with its propagation by the rules of the program.

Two formalisms of extended possibilistic logic programming with context-dependent fuzzy unification: A comparative description

Possibilistic logic is a logic of uncertainty where a certainty degree between 0 and 1, interpreted as a lower bound of a necessity measure, is attached to each classical formula. In this paper we present a comparative description of two models extending first order possibilistic logic so as to allow for fuzzy unification. The first formalism, called PLFC, is a general extension that allows clauses with fuzzy constants and fuzzily restricted quantifiers. The second formalism is an implication-based extension defined on top of Gödel infinitely-valued logic, capable of dealing with fuzzy constants. In this paper we compare these approaches, mainly their Horn-clause fragments, discussing their basic differences, specially in what regards their unification and automated deduction mechanisms.

Towards an automated deduction system for first-order possibilistic logic programming with fuzzy constants

In this article, we present a first-order logic programming language for fuzzy reasoning under possibilistic uncertainty and poorly known information. Formulas are represented by a pair (φ, α), in which φ is a first-order Horn clause or a query with fuzzy constants and regular predicates, and α ∈ [0, 1] is a lower bound on the belief on φ in terms of necessity measures. Since fuzzy constants can occur in the logic component of formulas, the truth value of formulas is many-valued instead of Boolean. Moreover, since we have to reason about the possibilistic uncertainty of formulas with fuzzy constants, belief states are modeled by normalized possibility distributions on a set of many-valued interpretations. In this framework, (1) we define a syntax and a semantics of the underlying logic; (2) we give a sound modus ponens-style calculus by derivation based on a semantic unification pattern of fuzzy constants; (3) we develop a directional fuzzy unification algorithm based on the distinction between general and specific object constants; and (4) we describe a backward first-order proof procedure oriented to queries that is based on the calculus of the language and the computation of the unification degree between fuzzy constants in terms of a necessity measure for fuzzy events. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hybrid Probabilistic Logic Programs as Residuated Logic Programs

In this paper we show the embedding of Hybrid Probabilistic Logic Programs into the rather general framework of Residuated Logic Programs, where the main results of (definite) logic programming are validly extrapolated, namely the extension of the immediate consequences operator of van Emden and Kowalski. The importance of this result is that for the first time a framework encompassing several quite distinct logic programming semantics is described, namely Generalized Annotated Logic Programs, Fuzzy Logic Programming, Hybrid Probabilistic Logic Programs, and Possibilistic Logic Programming. Moreover, the embedding provides a more general semantical structure paving the way for defining paraconsistent probabilistic reasoning with a logic programming semantics.