Modification Calculi

Abstract

We introduce a formalism that has a dual semantical–syntactical character. Modification calculi contain a collection of statements, practically playing the role of axioms, which identically define a certain canonical model.The representation of this model implicitly affects certain inference rules. Note that, besides some usual inference rules of first-order calculus (modus ponens and generalisation), we will also use the plausible inference rules, i.e. the modification rules. Application of these rules is interpreted as a move from uncertainty to definiteness, i.e. from ignorance to knowing. Application of these rules creates a new knowledge state.