math.LO

arXiv:2503.22042v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Classical set theory constructs the continuum via the power set P(N), thereby postulating an uncountable totality. However, constructive and computability-based approaches reveal that no formal system with countable syntax can generate all subsets of N, nor can it capture the real line in full. In this paper, we propose fractal countability as a constructive alternative to the power set. Rather than treating countability as an absolute cardinal notion, we redefine it as a stratified, process-relative closure over definable subsets, generated by a sequence of conservative extensions to a base formal system. This yields a structured, internally growing hierarchy of constructive definability that remains within the countable realm but approximates the expressive richness of the continuum. We compare fractally countable sets to classical countability and the hyperarithmetical hierarchy, and interpret the continuum not as a completed object, but as a layered definitional horizon. This framework provides a constructive reinterpretation of power set-like operations without invoking non-effective principles.

arXiv:2503.22492v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Recently, arXiv:2312.16035 showed that all logics based on Boolean Normal monotonic three-valued schemes coincide with classical logic when defined using a strict-tolerant standard ($\mathbf{st}$). Conversely, they proved that under a tolerant-strict standard ($\mathbf{ts}$), the resulting logics are all empty. Building on these results, we show that classical logic can be obtained by closing under transitivity the union of two logics defined over (potentially different) Boolean normal monotonic schemes, using a strict-strict standard ($\mathbf{ss}$) for one and a tolerant-tolerant standard ($\mathbf{tt}$) for the other, with the first of these logics being paracomplete and the other being paraconsistent. We then identify a notion dual to transitivity that allows us to characterize the logic $\mathsf{TS}$ as the dual transitive closure of the intersection of any two logics defined over (potentially different) Boolean normal monotonic schemes, using an $\mathbf{ss}$ standard for one and a $\mathbf{tt}$ standard for the other. Finally, we expand on the abstract relations between the transitive closure and dual transitive closure operations, showing that they give rise to lattice operations that precisely capture how the logics discussed relate to one another.

arXiv:2301.13735v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: A class of graphs $\mathscr{C}$ is monadically stable if for any unary expansion $\widehat{\mathscr{C}}$ of $\mathscr{C}$, one cannot interpret, in first-order logic, arbitrarily long linear orders in graphs from $\widehat{\mathscr{C}}$. It is known that nowhere dense graph classes are monadically stable; these encompass most of the studied concepts of sparsity in graphs, including graph classes that exclude a fixed topological minor. On the other hand, monadic stability is a property expressed in purely model-theoretic terms and hence it is also suited for capturing structure in dense graphs. For several years, it has been suspected that one can create a structure theory for monadically stable graph classes that mirrors the theory of nowhere dense graph classes in the dense setting. In this work we provide a step in this direction by giving a characterization of monadic stability through the Flipper game: a game on a graph played by Flipper, who in each round can complement the edge relation between any pair of vertex subsets, and Connector, who in each round localizes the game to a ball of bounded radius. This is an analog of the Splitter game, which characterizes nowhere dense classes of graphs (Grohe, Kreutzer, and Siebertz, J.ACM'17). We give two different proofs of our main result. The first proof uses tools from model theory, and it exposes an additional property of monadically stable graph classes that is close in spirit to definability of types. Also, as a byproduct, we give an alternative proof of the recent result of Braunfeld and Laskowski (arXiv 2209.05120) that monadic stability for graph classes coincides with existential monadic stability. The second proof relies on the recently introduced notion of flip-wideness (Dreier, M\"ahlmann, Siebertz, and Toru\'nczyk, ICALP 2023) and provides an efficient algorithm to compute Flipper's moves in a winning strategy.

arXiv:2503.05364v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: The field of proof-theoretic semantics (P-tS) offers an alternative approach to meaning in logic that is based on inference and argument (rather than truth in a model). It has been successfully developed for various logics; in particular, Sandqvist has developed such semantics for both classical and intuitionistic logic. In the case of classical logic, P-tS provides a conception of consequence that avoids an \emph{a priori} commitment to the principle of bivalence, addressing what Dummett identified as a significant foundational challenge in logic. In this paper, we propose an alternative P-tS for classical logic, which essentially extends the P-tS for intuitionistic logic by operating over literals rather than atomic propositions. Importantly, literals are atomic and not defined by negation but are defined by inferential relationships. This semantics illustrates the perspective that classical logic can be understood as intuitionistic logic supplemented by a principle of duality, offering fresh insights into the relationship between these two systems.

arXiv:2308.14941v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Asymptotic separation index is a parameter that measures how easily a Borel graph can be approximated by its subgraphs with finite components. In contrast to the more classical notion of hyperfiniteness, asymptotic separation index is well-suited for combinatorial applications in the Borel setting. The main result of this paper is a Borel version of the Lov\'asz Local Lemma -- a powerful general-purpose tool in probabilistic combinatorics -- under a finite asymptotic separation index assumption. As a consequence, we show that locally checkable labeling problems that are solvable by efficient randomized distributed algorithms admit Borel solutions on bounded degree Borel graphs with finite asymptotic separation index. From this we derive a number of corollaries, for example a Borel version of Brooks's theorem for graphs with finite asymptotic separation index.

arXiv:2502.07347v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: In artificial intelligence (AI) and decision-making systems, structured approximations play a crucial role in balancing model interpretability and predictive accuracy. Coarse Set Theory (CST) introduces a mathematical framework to formalize Coarse Ethics (CE), which models coarse-grained decision-making processes commonly used in human evaluations and AI classification systems. CST defines hierarchical relationships among sets using totally ordered structures and coarse mappings, enabling us to adjust decision granularity dynamically. Furthermore, coarse evaluations inherently involve a trade-off between efficiency and information retention, as they simplify complex data representations at the cost of precision. To quantitatively assess this trade-off, we introduce Kullback-Leibler (KL) Divergence as a measure of information loss in coarse evaluations, demonstrating the impact of coarse partitioning on decision accuracy. This study employs CST in grading systems, automated recommendations, and risk assessments, demonstrating its potential to enhance fairness, reduce bias, and improve transparency in AI-driven decision-making.

arXiv:2304.06348v4 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We propose a generic framework for establishing the decidability of a wide range of logical entailment problems (briefly called querying), based on the existence of countermodels that are structurally simple, gauged by certain types of width measures (with treewidth and cliquewidth as popular examples). As an important special case of our framework, we identify logics exhibiting width-finite finitely universal model sets, warranting decidable entailment for a wide range of homomorphism-closed queries, subsuming a diverse set of practically relevant query languages. As a particularly powerful width measure, we propose to employ Blumensath's partitionwidth, which subsumes various other commonly considered width measures and exhibits highly favorable computational and structural properties. Focusing on the formalism of existential rules as a popular showcase, we explain how finite partitionwidth sets of rules subsume other known abstract decidable classes but - leveraging existing notions of stratification - also cover a wide range of new rulesets. We expose natural limitations for fitting the class of finite unification sets into our picture and suggest several options for remedy.

arXiv:2501.11768v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: This paper develops the model theory of normal modal logics based on partial "possibilities" instead of total "worlds," following Humberstone (1981) instead of Kripke (1963). Possibility semantics can be seen as extending to modal logic the semantics for classical logic used in weak forcing in set theory, or as semanticizing a negative translation of classical modal logic into intuitionistic modal logic. Thus, possibility frames are based on posets with accessibility relations, like intuitionistic modal frames, but with the constraint that the interpretation of every formula is a regular open set in the Alexandrov topology on the poset. The standard world frames for modal logic are the special case of possibility frames wherein the poset is discrete. We develop the beginnings of duality theory, definability/correspondence theory, and completeness theory for possibility frames.

arXiv:2406.04936v5 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We explore a kind of first-order predicate logic with intended semantics in the reals. Compared to other approaches in the literature, we work predominantly in the multiplicative reals $[0,\infty]$, showing they support three generations of connectives, that we call non-linear, linear additive, and linear multiplicative. Means and harmonic means emerge as natural candidates for bounded existential and universal quantifiers, and in fact we see they behave as expected in relation to the other logical connectives. We explain this fact through the well-known fact that min/max and arithmetic mean/harmonic mean sit at opposite ends of a spectrum, that of p-means. We give syntax and semantics for this quantitative predicate logic, and as example applications, we show how softmax is the quantitative semantics of argmax, and R\'enyi entropy/Hill numbers are additive/multiplicative semantics of the same formula. Indeed, the additive reals also fit into the story by exploiting the Napierian duality $-\log \dashv 1/\exp$, which highlights a formal distinction between 'additive' and 'multiplicative' quantities. Finally, we describe two attempts at a categorical semantics via enriched hyperdoctrines. We discuss why hyperdoctrines are in fact probably inadequate for this kind of logic.

arXiv:2501.11799v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: In a multi-agent system, one may choose to govern the behaviour of an agent by imposing norms, which act as guidelines for how agents should act either all of the time or in given situations. However, imposing multiple norms on one or more agents may result in situations where these norms conflict over how the agent should behave. In any system with normative conflicts (such as safe reinforcement models or systems which monitor safety protocols), one must decide which norms should be followed such that the most important and most relevant norms are maintained. We introduce a new method for resolving normative conflicts through argumentation and graph colouring which is compatible with a variety of normative conflict resolution policies. We prove that this method always creates an admissible set of arguments under argumentation semantics, meaning that it produces coherent outputs. We also introduce more robust variants of this method, each building upon their predecessor to create a superior output, and we include further mathematical proof of their coherence. Our most advanced variant uses the existing concept of curtailment, where one norm may supersede another without fully eliminating it. The methods we introduce are all compatible with various pre-existing policies for resolving normative conflicts. Empirical evaluations are also performed to compare our algorithms to each other and to others in existing literature.

arXiv:2404.01670v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: In the product $L_1\times L_2$ of two Kripke complete consistent logics, local tabularity of $L_1$ and $L_2$ is necessary for local tabularity of $L_1\times L_2$. However, it is not sufficient: the product of two locally tabular logics may not be locally tabular. We provide extra semantic and axiomatic conditions that give criteria of local tabularity of the product of two locally tabular logics, and apply them to identify new families of locally tabular products. We show that the product of two locally tabular logics may lack the product finite model property. We give an axiomatic criterion of local tabularity for all extensions of $S4.1 [ 2 ]\times S5$. Finally, we describe a new prelocally tabular extension of $S{4}\times S{5}$.

arXiv:2303.09287v5 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We introduce semitopology, a generalisation of point-set topology that removes the restriction that intersections of open sets need necessarily be open. The intuition is that points represent participants in a decentralised system, and open sets represent collections of participants that collectively have the authority to collaborate to update their local state; we call this an actionable coalition. Examples of actionable coalition include: majority stakes in proof-of-stake blockchains; communicating peers in peer-to-peer networks; and even pedestrians working together to not bump into one another in the street. Where actionable coalitions exist, they have in common that: collaborations are local (updating the states of the participants in the coalition, but not immediately those of the whole system); collaborations are voluntary (up to and including breaking rules); participants may be heterogeneous in their computing power or in their goals (not all pedestrians want to go to the same place); participants can choose with whom to collaborate; and they are not assumed subject to permission or synchronisation by a central authority. We develop a topology-flavoured mathematics that goes some way to explaining how and why these complex decentralised systems can exhibit order, and gives us new ways to understand existing practical implementations.

arXiv:2402.02829v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Craig interpolation is a fundamental property of classical and non-classic logics with a plethora of applications from philosophical logic to computer-aided verification. The question of which interpolants can be obtained from an interpolation algorithm is of profound importance. Motivated by this question, we initiate the study of completeness properties of interpolation algorithms. An interpolation algorithm $\mathcal{I}$ is \emph{complete} if, for every semantically possible interpolant $C$ of an implication $A \to B$, there is a proof $P$ of $A \to B$ such that $C$ is logically equivalent to $\mathcal{I}(P)$. We establish incompleteness and different kinds of completeness results for several standard algorithms for resolution and the sequent calculus for propositional, modal, and first-order logic.

arXiv:2501.07332v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: In ``Monk Algebras and Ramsey Theory,'' \emph{J. Log. Algebr. Methods Program.} (2022), Kramer and Maddux prove various representability results in furtherance of the goal of finding the smallest weakly representable but not representable relation algebra. They also pose many open problems. In the present paper, we address problems and issues raised by Kramer and Maddux. In particular, we prove that their Proposition 7 does not generalize, and we answer Problem 1.1 in the negative: relation algebra $1311_{1316}$ is not representable. Thus $1311_{1316}$ is a good candidate for the smallest weakly representable but not representable relation algebra. Finally, we give the first known finite cyclic group representations for relation algebras $31_{37}$, $32_{65}$, $1306_{1314}$, and $1314_{1316}$.

arXiv:2501.03297v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: I deal with two approaches to proof-theoretic semantics: one based on argument structures and justifications, which I call reducibility semantics, and one based on consequence among (sets of) formulas over atomic bases, called base semantics. The latter splits in turn into a standard reading, and a variant of it put forward by Sandqvist. I prove some results which, when suitable conditions are met, permit one to shift from one approach to the other, and I draw some of the consequences of these results relative to the issue of completeness of (recursive) logical systems with respect to proof-theoretic notions of validity. This will lead me to focus on a notion of base-completeness, which I will discuss with reference to known completeness results for intuitionistic logic. The general interest of the proposed approach stems from the fact that reducibility semantics can be understood as a labelling of base semantics with proof-objects typed on (sets of) formulas for which a base semantics consequence relation holds, and which witness this very fact. Vice versa, base semantics can be understood as a type-abstraction of a reducibility semantics consequence relation obtained by removing the witness of the fact that this relation holds, and by just focusing on the input and output type of the relevant proof-object.

arXiv:2501.03789v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We present a dichotomy for structures $A$ that are preserved by primitive actions of $S_{\omega} = \text{Sym}({\mathbb N})$: either such a structure interprets all finite structures primitively positively, or it is of a very simple form and in particular has a binary polymorphism $f$ and an automorphism $\alpha$ satisfying $f(x,y) = \alpha(f(y,x))$. It is a consequence of our results that the constraint satisfaction problem for $A$ is in P or NP-complete. To prove our result, we study the first-order reducts of the Johnson graph $J(k)$, for $k \geq 2$, whose automorphism group $G$ equals the action of $S_{\omega}$ on the set $V$ of $k$-element subsets of $\mathbb N$. We use the fact that $J(k)$ has a finitely bounded homogeneous Ramsey expansion and that $G$ is a maximal closed subgroup of $\text{Sym}(V)$.

arXiv:2501.00496v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: This work studies the proof theory of left (right) skew monoidal closed categories and skew monoidal bi-closed categories from the perspective of non-associative Lambek calculus. Skew monoidal closed categories represent a relaxed version of monoidal closed categories, where the structural laws are not invertible; instead, they are natural transformations with a specific orientation. Uustalu et al. used sequents with stoup (the leftmost position of an antecedent that can be either empty or a single formula) to deductively model left skew monoidal closed categories, yielding results regarding proof identities and categorical coherence. However, their syntax does not work well when modeling right skew monoidal closed and skew monoidal bi-closed categories. We solve the problem by constructing cut-free sequent calculi for left skew monoidal closed and skew monoidal bi-closed categories, reminiscent of non-associative Lambek calculus, with trees as antecedents. Each calculus is respectively equivalent to the sequent calculus with stoup (for left skew monoidal categories) and the axiomatic calculus (for skew monoidal bi-closed categories). Moreover, we prove that the latter calculus is sound and complete with respect to its relational models. We also prove a correspondence between frame conditions and structural laws, providing an algebraic way to understand the relationship between the left and right skew monoidal (closed) categories.

arXiv:2405.13398v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Epistemic logic is known as a logic that captures the knowledge and beliefs of agents and has undergone various developments since Hintikka (1962). In this paper, we propose a new logic called agent-knowledge logic by taking the product of individual knowledge structures and the set of relationships among agents. This logic is based on the Facebook logic proposed by Seligman et al. (2011) and the Logic of Hide and Seek Game proposed by Li et al. (2021). We show two main results; one is that this logic can embed the standard epistemic logic, and the other is that there is a proof system of tableau calculus that works in finite time. We also discuss various sentences and inferences that this logic can express.

arXiv:2501.00451v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We demonstrate that techniques of Weihrauch complexity can be used to get easy and elegant proofs of known and new results on initial value problems. Our main result is that solving continuous initial value problems is Weihrauch equivalent to weak K\H{o}nig's lemma, even if only solutions with maximal domains of existence are considered. This result simultaneously generalizes negative and positive results by Aberth and by Collins and Gra\c{c}a, respectively. It can also be seen as a uniform version of a Theorem of Simpson. Beyond known techniques we exploit for the proof that weak K\H{o}nig's lemma is closed under infinite loops. One corollary of our main result is that solutions with maximal domain of existence of continuous initial value problems can be computed non-deterministically, and for computable instances there are always solutions that are low as points in the function space. Another corollary is that in the case that there is a fixed finite number of solutions, these solutions are all computable for computable instances and they can be found uniformly in a finite mind-change computation.

arXiv:2412.07592v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We study the complexity of deterministic and probabilistic inversions of partial computable functions on the reals.