This volume presents a variety of papers bearing on the relation between deontic logics, logics of action, and normative systems, i.e. systems of or about interacting agents (computers, human beings, corporations, etc.) whose behaviour is subject to ideal constraints that may not always be fulfilled in practice. The papers range from theoretical studies of the logical and conceptual tools needed, to studies of various applications. The set of papers collected in this book should be of interest to investigators working in a variety of fields, from philosophy, logic and legal theory to artificial intelligence, computer and management sciences, since it covers topics ranging from theoretical research on foundational issues in deontic and action logics, defeasible reasoning, decision theory, ethical theory, and legal theory, to research on a variety of issues relevant to applications connected with expert systems in the law, document specification, automation of defeasible reasoning, specification of responsibilities and powers in organizations, normative systems specification, confidentiality in database systems, and a host of other applications.

InhaltsangabeFrom the Fundamental Legal Conceptions of Hohfeld to Legal Relations: Refining the Enrichment of Solely Deontic Legal Relations.- Towards a Computational Treatment of Deontic Defeasibility.- Doing as We Ought: Towards a Logic of Simply Dischargeable Obligations.- A Deontic Logic for Reasoning about Confidentiality.- A Modal Approach to Intentions, Commitments and Obligations: Intention plus Commitment Yields Obligation.- Combining Agency and Obligation (Preliminary Version).- The Logic of Normative Systems.- Getting Personal: Some Notes on the Relationship Between Personal and Impersonal Obligation.- Must I Do What I Ought? (Or Will the Least I Can Do Do?).- Defeasible Reasoning with Legal Rules.- Indirect Action, Influence and Responsibility.- How to Combine Ordering and Minimizing in a Deontic Logic Based on Preferences.- Author Index.