Argument & Computation - Volume 6, issue 1

Article Type: Correction

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2015.1015836

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. vi-vi, 2015

Authors: Leite, João | Cao Son, Tran | Torroni, Paolo | Woltran, Stefan

Article Type: Introduction

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2014.1003407

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1-2, 2015

Authors: Novák, Peter | Witteveen, Cees

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The Metis research project aims at supporting maritime safety and security by facilitating continuous monitoring of vessels in national coastal waters and prevention of phenomena, such as vessel collisions, environmental hazard, or detection of malicious intents, such as smuggling. Surveillance systems such as Metis typically comprise a number of heterogeneous information sources and information aggregators. Among the main problems of their deployment lies their scalability with respect to a potentially large number of monitored entities. One of the solutions to the problem is continuous and timely adaptation and reconfiguration of the system according to the changing environment …it operates in. At any given timepoint, the system should use only a minimal set of information sources and aggregators needed to facilitate effective and early detection of indicators of interest. Here, we describe the Metis system prototype and introduce a theoretical framework for modelling scalable information-aggregation systems. We model information-aggregation systems as networks of inter-dependent reasoning agents, each representing a mechanism for justification/refutation of a conclusion derived by the agent. The proposed continuous reconfiguration algorithm relies on standard results from abstract argumentation and corresponds to computation of a grounded extension of the argumentation framework associated with the system. Finally, we demonstrate the flexibility of the presented framework by extending the proposed algorithm to adapt to context-dependent changes in information sources availability, as well as shifts in system's focus according to its context. Show more

Keywords: applications of argumentation technology, context-aware configuration & reconfiguration, information-aggregation agents, heterogeneous information sources, grounded semantics, maritime traffic surveillance

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2014.1001790

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 3-23, 2015

Authors: Baroni, Pietro | Romano, Marco | Toni, Francesca | Aurisicchio, Marco | Bertanza, Giorgio

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents a novel argumentation framework to support Issue-Based Information System style debates on design alternatives, by providing an automatic quantitative evaluation of the positions put forward. It also identifies several formal properties of the proposed quantitative argumentation framework and compares it with existing non-numerical abstract argumentation formalisms. Finally, the paper describes the integration of the proposed approach within the design Visual Understanding Environment software tool along with three case studies in engineering design. The case studies show the potential for a competitive advantage of the proposed approach with respect to state-of-the-art engineering design methods.

Keywords: argumentation, debate, design rationale, Issue-Based Information System (IBIS), decision support

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2014.1001791

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 24-49, 2015

Authors: Wyner, Adam | Bench-Capon, Trevor | Dunne, Paul | Cerutti, Federico

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Argumentation Frameworks (AFs) provide a fruitful basis for exploring issues of defeasible reasoning. Their power largely derives from the abstract nature of the arguments within the framework, where arguments are atomic nodes in an undifferentiated relation of attack. This abstraction conceals different senses of argument, namely a single-step reason to a claim, a series of reasoning steps to a single claim, and reasoning steps for and against a claim. Concrete instantiations encounter difficulties and complexities as a result of conflating these senses. To distinguish them, we provide an approach to instantiating AFs in which the nodes are restricted to literals …and rules, encoding the underlying theory directly. Arguments in these senses emerge from this framework as distinctive structures of nodes and paths. As a consequence of the approach, we reduce the effort of computing argumentation extensions, which is in contrast to other approaches. Our framework retains the theoretical and computational benefits of an abstract AF, distinguishes senses of argument, and efficiently computes extensions. Given the mixed intended audience of the paper, the style of presentation is semi-formal. Show more

Keywords: argumentation frameworks, instantiated argumentation, structured argumentation, logic

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2014.1002535

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 50-72, 2015

Authors: Arieli, Ofer | Straßer, Christian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We introduce a general approach for representing and reasoning with argumentation-based systems. In our framework arguments are represented by Gentzen-style sequents, attacks (conflicts) between arguments are represented by sequent elimination rules, and deductions are made according to Dung-style skeptical or credulous semantics. This framework accommodates different languages and logics in which arguments may be represented, allows for a flexible and simple way of expressing and identifying arguments, supports a variety of attack relations (including those that reflect relevance or quantitative considerations), and is faithful to standard methods of drawing conclusions by argumentation frameworks. Altogether, we show that argumentation theory may …benefit from incorporating proof theoretical techniques and that different non-classical formalisms may be used for backing up intended argumentation semantics. Show more

Keywords: logical argumentation, structured argumentation, sequent calculi

DOI: 10.1080/19462166.2014.1002536

Citation: Argument & Computation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 73-99, 2015