McCarthy variations in a modal key
We take a fresh look at some major strands in John McCarthy's work from a logician's perspective. First, we re-analyze circumscription in dynamic logics of belief change under hard and soft information. Next, we re-analyze the regression method in the Situation Calculus in terms of update axioms for dynamic-epistemic temporal logics. Finally, we draw some general methodological comparisons between 'Logical AI' and practices in modal logic, pointing at some creative tensions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
circumscription belief change regression method situation calculus temporal logic fixed-point logic structural rules dynamic epistemic logic