A topological framework for modeling belief revision

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Classical formulations model belief revision as a deterministic process. Under certain circumstances,the process may have more than one outcome, which suggests that belief revision is non-deterministicinstead. Representations exist that model belief revision in either format, and for both formats thereare axiom schemes that determine whether the representation is in fact a belief revision process.Although the axiom scheme for the non-deterministic case generalises that of the deterministic case,both schemes entail that all of the beliefs held by an agent are affected by new information, whichis perhaps unintuitive. Rather, one may consider that belief revision should be local, with beliefsonly affected if the new information is pertinent to them. We approach the problem of belief revisionfrom the standpoint that it is local and non-deterministic, and the purpose and contribution of thisdissertation is the development of a topological framework with which to model belief revision inthis manner.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University