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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Parent, Xavier
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.26977
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author Parent, Xavier
author_facet Parent, Xavier
contents In response to a concern raised by Horty, this paper develops a two-tiered, preference-based semantic framework for modeling defeasible conditional obligations. The paper extends a Hansson-Lewis style preference semantics for dyadic deontic logic by incorporating a nonmonotonic reasoning mechanism that enables previously derived obligations to be withdrawn when new, potentially conflicting information comes in. The account is bi-preferential: two orderings--ideality and normality--on worlds are employed to address shortcomings in earlier approaches, with a separate ranking method for each. At the nonmonotonic layer, a number of postulates are considered, including antecedent strengthening, inclusion and no-drowning. A connection is established with so-called constrained input/output (I/O) logic--an existing standard for normative reasoning based on a different methodology.
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publishDate 2026
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spellingShingle Defeasible Conditional Obligation in a Two-tiered Preference-based Semantics (Extended Version)
Parent, Xavier
Logic in Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence
In response to a concern raised by Horty, this paper develops a two-tiered, preference-based semantic framework for modeling defeasible conditional obligations. The paper extends a Hansson-Lewis style preference semantics for dyadic deontic logic by incorporating a nonmonotonic reasoning mechanism that enables previously derived obligations to be withdrawn when new, potentially conflicting information comes in. The account is bi-preferential: two orderings--ideality and normality--on worlds are employed to address shortcomings in earlier approaches, with a separate ranking method for each. At the nonmonotonic layer, a number of postulates are considered, including antecedent strengthening, inclusion and no-drowning. A connection is established with so-called constrained input/output (I/O) logic--an existing standard for normative reasoning based on a different methodology.
title Defeasible Conditional Obligation in a Two-tiered Preference-based Semantics (Extended Version)
topic Logic in Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.26977