Abstract
An abstract architecture for idealized multi-agent systems whose behaviour is regulated by normative systems is developed and discussed. Agent choices are determined partially by the preference ordering of possible states and partially by normative considerations: The agent chooses that act which leads to the best outcome of all permissible actions. If an action is non-permissible depends on if the result of performing that action leads to a state satisfying a condition which is forbidden, according to the norms regulating the multi-agent system. This idea is formalized by defining set-theoretic predicates characterizing multi-agent systems. The definition of the predicate uses decision theory, the Kanger–Lindahl theory of normative positions, and an algebraic representation of normative systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C.E. Alchourron and E. Bulygin, Normative Systems (Springer, 1971).
J.L. Bell and A.B. Slomson, Models and Ultraproducts: An Introduction (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1969).
M. Boman, Norms in artificial decision making, Artificial Intelligence and Law 7(1) (1999) 17–35.
M. Boman, P. Davidsson and H. Younes, Artificial decision making under uncertainty in intelligent buildings, in: Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Vol. 6, ed. E. Pagello (IOS Press, 1999) pp. 744–750.
M. Boman and E. Holm, Multi-agent systems, time geography, and microsimulations, in: Systems Approaches and their Application, eds. M.-O. Olsson and G. Sjöstedt (Kluwer Academic, 2003) chapter 4.
H. Broer, Introduction to dynamical systems, in: Structures in Dynamics-Finite Dimensional Deterministic Studies, Vol. 2: Studies in Mathematical Physics, eds. H. Broer, F. Dukmortier, S.J. van Strien and F. Takens (North-Holland, 1991).
C.C. Chang and H.J. Keisler, Model Theory (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1973).
F. Dignum, Autonomous agents with norms, Artificial Intelligence and Law 7(1) (1999) 69–79.
F. Dignum, D. Morley, E.A. Sonenberg and L. Cavedon, Towards socially sophisticated BDI agents, in: ICMAS'2000 Proceedings (IEEE, 2000) pp. 111–118.
B. Huberman and N. Glance, Evolutionary games and computer simulations, PNAS 90 (1993) 7716–7718.
A. Jones and M. Sergot, On the characterisation of law and computer systems-the normative systems perspective, in: Deontic Logic in Computer Science-Normative System Specification, eds. J.-H.C. Meyer and R.J. Wieringa (Wiley, 1993).
A. Jones and M. Sergot, A formal characterisation of institutionalised power, Journal of the IGPL 4(3) (1996) 429–445.
S. Kanger, New foundations for ethical theory, Part 1, Technical Report, Stockholm University (1957). Reprinted in: Deontic Logic: Introductory and Systematic Readings, ed. R. Hilpinen (D. Reidel, Dordrecht, 1971).
S. Kanger and H. Kanger, Rights and parliamentarism, Theoria 32 (1966) 85–115.
C. Krogh, The rights of agents, in: Intelligent Agents II (Springer, 1995).
C. Krogh and H. Herrestad, Hohfeld in cyberspace and other applications of normative reasoning in agent technology, Artificial Intelligence and Law 7(1) (1999) 81–96.
L. Lindahl, Position and Change-A Study in Law and Logic (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1977).
L. Lindahl, Stig Kanger's theory of rights, in: Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science IX, eds. D. Prawitz, B. Skyrms and D. Westerståhl (Elsevier Science, 1994).
L. Lindahl and J. Odelstad, Intermediate concepts as couplings of conceptual structures, in: Norms, Logics and Information Systems-New Studies on Deontic Logic and Computer Science, eds. H. Prakken and P. McNamara (IOS Press, 1999).
L. Lindahl and J. Odelstad, An algebraic analysis of normative systems, Ratio Juris 13 (2000) 261–278.
L. Lindahl and J. Odelstad, Normative positions within an algebraic approach to normative systems, Journal of Applied Logic (2004) in press.
D. Makinson, On the formal representation of right relations, Journal of Philosophical Logic 15 (1986) 403–425.
J. Odelstad, An abstract architecture for norm-regulated agents, Paper presented at Promote IT 2003, Visby, Sweden (2003).
J. Odelstad and L. Lindahl, Normative systems represented by boolean quasi-orderings, Nordic Journal of Philosophical Logic 5 (2000) 161–174.
J. Odelstad and L. Lindahl, The role of connections as minimal norms in normative systems, in: Legal Knowledge and Information Systems, eds. T. Bench-Capon, A. Daskalopulu and R. Winkels (IOS Press, Amsterdam, 2002).
L.J. Savage, The Foundations of Statistics, 2nd edn (Dover, 1972).
M. Sergot, Normative positions, in: Norms, Logics and Information Systems, eds. P. McNamara and H. Prakken (IOS Press, Amsterdam, 1999) pp. 289–308.
M. Sergot, A computational theory of normative positions, ACM Transactions on Computational Logic 2(4) (2001) 581–622.
T. Spaak, Norms that confer competence, Ratio Juris 16(1) (2003) 89–104.
M. Wooldridge, An Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems (Wiley, 2002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Odelstad, J., Boman, M. Algebras for Agent Norm-Regulation. Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence 42, 141–166 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AMAI.0000034525.49481.4a
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AMAI.0000034525.49481.4a