A Tutorial in Proof-Theoretic Approaches to Logical Argumentation

Abstract

This article provides a tutorial in proof-theoretic approaches to logical argumentation. We first introduce and discuss defeasible reasoning and nonmonotonic logic. This naturally paves the way to formal argumentation. An argumentation framework structures a given knowledge base by tracking conflicts. Argumentation semantics offer ways of selecting arguments. Logical argumentation provides structure both to arguments and to attacks. By adopting a proof-theoretic perspective on logical argumentation, we generate arguments and derive new ones from those derived previously. We study some meta-theoretic properties of the resulting systems. Finally, we apply these formal methods to the problem of reasoning with norms and obligations with a special emphasis on explanations. In closing we, discuss an enhanced Argumentative Knowledge Representation and Reasoning pipeline, including the construction of explanations.