An overview of nonmonotonic reasoning and logic programming

AbstractThe focus of this paper is nonmonotonic reasoning as it relates to logic programming. I discuss the prehistory of nonmonotonic reasoning, starting from approximately 1958. I then review the research that has been accomplished in the areas of circumscription, default theory, modal theories, and logic programming. The overview includes the major results developed, including complexity results that are known about the various theories. I then provide a summary which includes an assessment of the field and what must be done to further research in nonmonotonic reasoning and logic programming