Deductive and Abductive Reasoning with Causal and Evidential Information

Abstract

In this paper, we propose the information graph (IG) formalism, which provides a precise account of the interplay between deductive and abductive inference and causal and evidential information. IGs formalise analyses performed by domain experts in the informal reasoning tools they are familiar with, such as mind maps used in crime analysis. Based on principles for reasoning with causal and evidential information given the evidence, we impose constraints on the inferences that may be performed with IGs. Moreover, we propose an argumentation formalism based on IGs that allows arguments to be formally evaluated.