One effect of information technology is the increasing need to present information visually. The trend raises intriguing questions. What is the logical status of reasoning that employs visualization? What are the cognitive advantages and pitfalls of this reasoning? What kinds of tools can be developed to aid in the use of visual representation? This newest volume on the Studies in Logic and Computation series addresses the logical aspects of the visualization of information. The authors of these specially commissioned papers explore the properties of diagrams, charts, and maps, and...

Substructural logics comprise a family of nonclassical logics that arose in response to problems in theoretical computer science, mathematical linguistics, and category theory. They include intuitionist logic, relevant logic, BCK logic, linear logic, and Lambeck's calculus of synthetic categories. This book brings together new papers by some of the most eminent authorities in these various traditions in order to provide a unified view of the field. This important volume--the first to bring together the disparate strands of work in substructural logics--will be welcomed by student and...

Future data and knowledge base systems will require new and improved functions such as richer data modeling capabilities, more powerful query languages, and new conceptions of query answers. Future query languages will need to include hypothetical, abductive, meta-, and modal reasoning, involving both knowledge and belief. And intentional answers will ultimately lead to cooperative query answering which takes into consideration a user's expectations. This book explores the formalization of new queries and answers, and emphasizes the important role of non-classical logic. It shows how logic...

This superb collection of papers focuses on a fundamental question in logic and computation: What is a logical system? With contributions from leading researchers--including Ian Hacking, Robert Kowalski, Jim Lambek, Neil Tennent, Arnon Avron, L. Farinas del Cerro, Kosta Dosen, and Solomon Feferman--the book presents a wide range of views on how to answer such a question, reflecting current, mainstream approaches to logic and its applications. Written to appeal to a diverse audience of readers, What is a Logical System? will excite discussion among students, teachers, and researchers in...

This book looks at the ways in which conditionals, an integral part of philosophy and logic, can be of practical use in computer programming. It analyzes the different types of conditionals, including their applications and potential problems. Other topics include defeasible logics, the Ramsey test, and a unified view of consequence relation and belief revision. Its implications will be of interest to researchers in logic, philosophy, and computer science, particularly artificial intelligence.