Abstract
The paper presents an infinite hierarchy of sound and complete axiomatic systems for Two-Dimensional Modal Tense Logic with Historical Necessity, Agents and Acts. A main novelty of these logics is their capacity to represent formally (i) basic action-sentences asserting that such and such an act is performed/omitted by an agent, as well as (ii) causative action-sentences asserting that by performing/omitting a certain act, an agent causes that such and such a state-of-affairs is realized (e.g. comes about/ceases/remains/remains absent). We illustrate how the formal machinery of our systems can be used to reconstruct a number of interesting ideas in the Logic of Agency and Action that have been proposed by authors like von Wright, von Kutschera, Belnap and Segerberg.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Åqvist, L. (1973): Kausalitet och Culpaansvar inom en logiskt rekonstruerad skadeståndsrätt: en studie i analytisk rättsfilosofi (Causation and Liability for Negligence in a Logically Reconstructed Law of Torts: a Study in Analytic Philosophy of Law), mimeographed, Uppsala, 1973.
Åqvist, L. (1974): A New Approach to the Logical Theory of Actions and Causality. In S. Stenlund (ed.), Logical Theory and Semantic Analysis (Festschrift to Stig Kanger), D. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, pp. 73-91.
Åqvist, L. (1984): Deontic Logic. In D. M. Gabbay and F. Guenthner (eds.), Handbook of Philosophical Logic, Vol. II: Extensions of Classical Logic, D. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, pp. 605-714.
Åqvist, L. (1987): Introduction to Deontic Logic and the Theory of Normative Systems. Bibliopolis, Napoli.
Åqvist, L. (1999): The Logic of Historical Necessity as Founded on Two-Dimensional Modal Tense Logic. Journal of Philosophical Logic 28: 329-369, 1999.
Åqvist, L. and Hoepelman, J. (1981): Some Theorems about a 'Tree' System of Deontic Tense Logic. In R. Hilpinen (ed.), New Studies in Deontic Logic, D. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, pp. 187-221.
Åqvist, L. and Mullock, Ph. (1989): Causing Harm: A Logico-Legal Study, W. De Gruyter, Berlin/New York.
Bailhache, P. (1993): The Deontic Branching Time: Two Related Conceptions. Logique et Analyse 36: 159-175, 1993.
Belnap, N. (1991): Backwards and Forwards in the Modal Logic of Agency. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 51: 777-807, 1991.
Belnap, N. and Perloff, M. (1993): In the Realm of Agents. Annals of Mathematics & Artificial Intelligence 9: 25-48, 1993.
Chellas, B. (1969): The Logical Form of Imperatives, Perry Lane Press, Stanford.
Davidson, D. (1966): The Logical Form of Action Sentences. In N. Rescher (ed.), The Logic of Decision and Action, University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, pp. 81-95.
Hart, H. L. A. and Honoré, A. M. (1959): Causation in the Law, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Kanger, S. (1957): New Foundations for Ethical Theory, University of Stockholm, Stockholm. Reprinted in R. Hilpinen (ed.), Deontic Logic: Introductory and Systematic Readings, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, 1971, pp. 36–58.
von Kutschera, F. (1986): Bewirken. Erkenntnis 24: 253-281, 1986.
Lewis, D. K. (1973): Counterfactuals, Blackwell, Oxford.
Luce, R. D. and Raiffa, H. (1957): Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey, Wiley, New York.
Pratt, V. R. (1980): Application of Modal Logic to Programming. Studia Logica 39: 257-274, 1980.
Reichenbach, H. (1947): Elements of Symbolic Logic, MacMillan, New York.
Segerberg, K. (1973): Two-Dimensional Modal Logic. Journal of Philosophical Logic 2: 77-96, 1973.
Segerberg, K. (1992): Getting Started: Beginnings in the Logic of Action. Studia Logica 51: 347-378, 1992. Originally published in Le teorie delle modalità (= Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Storia della Logica, San Gimignano 5–8 dicembre 1987), CLUEB, Bologna, 1989, pp. 221–250.
Thomason, R. H. (1984): Combinations of Tense and Modality. In D. M. Gabbay and F. Guenthner (eds.), Handbook of Philosophical Logic, Vol. II: Extensions of Classical Logic, D.Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, pp. 135-165.
von Wright, G. H. (1951): Deontic Logic. Mind 60: 1-15, 1951.
von Wright, G. H. (1963): Norm and Action. A Logical Inquiry, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London.
von Wright, G. H. (1966): The Logic of Action — a Sketch. In N. Rescher (ed.), The Logic of Decision and Action, University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, pp. 121-136.
von Wright, G. H. (1968): An Essay in Deontic Logic and the General Theory of Action, North-Holland, Amsterdam.
von Wright, G. H. (1983): Practical Reason, Blackwell, Oxford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Åqvist, L. Old Foundations for the Logic of Agency and Action. Studia Logica 72, 313–338 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021871106406
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021871106406
- Basic action-sentences vs. Causative ones
- Individual vs. Generic acts
- Performance vs. Omission of acts
- Historical Necessitation (of effects by causes)
- Historical Avoidability (of effects relative to causes)
- BEWIRKEN theory
- STIT theory
- Coming About vs. Ceasing vs. Remaining vs. Remaining-Absent of states-of-affairs
- Dynamic Logic