Connect Argumentation Theory with Justification Logic

Che-Ping Su (University of Melbourne)

Argumentation theory studies the activities in which rational agents debate with each other.  In artificial intelligence, since the late 1980s there has been research that tries to use formal methods to approach argumentation theory.  One perspective taken by those formal accounts for argumentation is that given a set of arguments, to decide which arguments to accept, we should look at not only the inner structure of each argument, but also the relationship among those arguments. 

   One very young trend in the formal approach to argumentation is to study argumentation under the framework of modal logic.  Two possible advantages of doing so are: (1) this is a new angle to look at argumentation, which might lead to new insights, and (2) technics in modal logic become available for studying argumentation.  In my talk, I would like to sketch a new way to connect argumentation theory with modal logic – I would like to sketch a way to connect argumentation theory with justification logic.

(Since it is just a work-in-progress presentation, please excuse me that there will be no solid results presented, but just a rough shape.)