Qiana: A First-Order Formalism to Quantify over Contexts and Formulas with Temporality
Organizations: LTCI, LaHDAK · Telecom Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France · Université Paris-Saclay, France · ENS de Lyon ·
Abstract
We introduce Qiana, a logic framework for reasoning on formulas that are true only in specific contexts. In Qiana, it is possible to quantify over both formulas and contexts to express, e.g., that ``everyone knows everything Alice says''. Qiana also permits paraconsistent logics within contexts, so that contexts can contain contradictions. Furthermore, Qiana is based on first-order logic, and is finitely axiomatizable, so that Qiana theories are compatible with pre-existing first-order logic theorem provers. We show how Qiana can be used to represent temporality, event calculus, and modal logic. We also discuss different design alternatives of Qiana.
Figures & tables
| Truth | Formula | Context | Semi- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representation | Quantif | Quantif | decidable | |
| Moore,1981 | yes | yes | NA | yes |
| Genesereth,1991 | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Halpern & Moses,1992 | yes | no | no | yes |
| McCarthy,1993 | yes | no | no | NA |
| Giunchiglia,1997 | NA | no | no | NA |
| Event Calculus operator | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The first time instant |
| Instant occurs before instant | |
| Nontemporal quoted formula holds at the beginning | |
| Nontemporal quoted formula holds at time | |
| Action happens between times and | |
| If action occurs at time it initiates at that time |
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Objects | Non-Qiana objects (people, places, …) | |
| Quotations | Type of all quotations (quoted formulas, quoted terms, …) | |
| Contexts | Contexts | |
| Time instant | Event calculus points in time. | |
| Actions | Event calculus actions |
Logical Reasoning
Logical reasoning studies how formal rules support valid inference, knowledge representation, and reliable decisions.
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