Default Logic
Default logic is a non-monotonic logic proposed by Raymond Reiter to formalize reasoning with default assumptions. It allows for the expression of facts like ‘by default, something is true’, which contrasts with standard logic that can only express that something is true or false.
Areas of application
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer science
- Cognitive science
- Logic and reasoning
- Decision making
- Expert systems
- Knowledge representation and reasoning
Example
For example, in a medical database, a patient’s blood type may be recorded as ‘A by default’ unless otherwise specified. This allows for efficient data entry and retrieval without having to specify the patient’s blood type every time it is needed.