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A dialectical model of assessing conflicting arguments in legal reasoning

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Abstract

Inspired by legal reasoning, this paper presents a formal framework for assessing conflicting arguments. Its use is illustrated with applications to realistic legal examples, and the potential for implementation is discussed. The framework has the form of a logical system for defeasible argumentation. Its language, which is of a logic-programming-like nature, has both weak and explicit negation, and conflicts between arguments are decided with the help of priorities on the rules. An important feature of the system is that these priorities are not fixed, but are themselves defeasibly derived as conclusions within the system. Thus debates on the choice between conflicting arguments can also be modelled.

The proof theory of the system is stated in dialectical style, where a proof takes the form of a dialogue between a proponent and an opponent of an argument. An argument is shown to be justified if the proponent can make the opponent run out of moves in whatever way the opponent attacks. Despite this dialectical form, the system reflects a ‘declarative’, or ‘relational’ approach to modelling legal argument. A basic assumption of this paper is that this approach complements two other lines of research in AI and Law, investigations of precedent-based reasoning and the development of ‘procedural’, or ‘dialectical’ models of legal argument.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer/Law Institute, Faculty of Law, Free University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081, Amsterdam, HV, The Netherlands

    H. Prakken

  2. Faculty of Law, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, Ireland

    G. Sartor

Authors
  1. H. Prakken
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  2. G. Sartor
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Additional information

Supported by a research fellowship of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and by Esprit WG 8319 ‘Modelage’.

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Prakken, H., Sartor, G. A dialectical model of assessing conflicting arguments in legal reasoning. Artif Intell Law 4, 331–368 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118496

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