Using Paraconsistent Logics in Knowledge-Based Systems

In classical logic everything follows from inconsistency. A paraconsistent logic is a logic where we can have inconsistency but get something more limited and useful. Since consistency is difficult to guarantee in many situations, the potential applications of paraconsistent logics in knowledge bases are many. Work based on bilattices is considered, and a paraconsistent many-valued logic is presented. Its use is demonstrated in a case of medicine, and a simple implementation of a knowledge-based system using the presented many-valued logic is provided and applied on that case. The basic concepts of preservationism are presented as another approach towards achieving a paraconsistent logic. Preface This project was written for the department of Informatics and Mathematical Modelling at the Technical University of Denmark. It is written as the BSc thesis required for obtaining a BSc degree in engineering. This means that my background with studying logics is limited to the few courses in the recommended study plan of the BSc degree in software technology (on DTU). As these courses mainly teaches classical logics, much of the theory in this project was new to me. I would like to thank Jørgen Villadsen for being my supervisor on the project. He has helped me by guiding the project and discussing the material with me.