Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

195201

Soft deontic logic

Txetxu AusínLorenzo Peña

pp. 157-172

Abstract

Deontic logic is the theory of valid inference rules containing qualifications of prohibition, duty, or permission. Three main assumptions of standard deontic-logic approaches are here discussed and rejected: (1) the modal conception of deontic logic, according to which "licit" means "possible without breaking the rules"; (2) the gap between facts and norms, which contends that what actually happens has no bearing on duties; and (3) bivalence, which bars any situation inbetween absolute truth and downright falseness. As against such approaches, we put forward an alternative deontic logic we call soft, which, while being fuzzy (and based on a a paraconsistent gradualistic sentential calculus), binds duties to facts by espousing the implantation principle, according to which, if A is the case, then the duty (or permission) to do B – if – A implies the duty (or permission) to do B. By embracing degrees of licitness our proposal upholds a principle of proportionality ruling out deontic leaps. A formalized axiomatic system along those lines is developed.

Publication details

Published in:

Seising Rudolf, Sanz González Veronica (2012) Soft computing in humanities and social sciences. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 157-172

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-24672-2_8

Full citation:

Ausín Txetxu, Peña Lorenzo (2012) „Soft deontic logic“, In: R. Seising & V. Sanz González (eds.), Soft computing in humanities and social sciences, Dordrecht, Springer, 157–172.