Logic for Multi-agent Systems

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

Students will obtain advanced theoretical knowledge in the state of the art of formal logics for reasoning about interaction, and skills in using them to model and analyse multi-agent systems. The course will enable students to carry out advanced research projects in the areas of multi-agent systems, artificial intelligence, and modal logic, and give them an overview of the research frontier and open problems.

The course covers the state of the art in logical formalisms for reasoning about multi-agent interaction. Formal logic is of key foundational and practical importance in the fields of multi-agent systems and artificial intelligence. The course will focus on the logical formalization of different types of interaction between rational agents. A main topic will be epistemic logic, logic for reasoning about knowledge and belief. Epistemic logic has had a very strong impact, not only in multi-agent systems and artificial intelligence, but also elsewhere in computer science, in philosophy, in game theory, and in other fields. In addition to epistemic logic, the course will cover logics for reasoning about time and game-like interaction, such as coalition logic and alternating-time temporal logic, as well as other types of multi-agent interaction, and the dynamics of combining several of these types of reasoning. The emphasis will be on formal models and logical languages and their formal semantics. Some proof techniques will be covered.

The course material will consist of textbook chapters and research articles.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has advanced theoretical knowledge in the state of the art of formal logics for reasoning about interaction, including about key properties of some of the most important multi-agent logics

Skills

The student has skills in using advanced theoretical knowledge to model and analyse multi-agent systems, including

  • presenting and discussing state-of-the art research papers in the fields of modal logic, multi-agent systems and artificial intelligence
  • modelling scenarios involving rational interaction and use formal logic to analyse them
  • carrying out advanced research projects in the use of formal logic in multi-agent systems and artificial intelligence

General competence

The student is able to read and understand advanced research papers in the fields of modal logic, multi-agent systems and artificial intelligence, as well as formulate research problems in these fields.

Level of Study

Master level

Semester of Instruction

Irregular
Recommended Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of discrete mathematics and formal classical logic will be assumed.

Background in Information Science/ Informatics/Computer Science/Philosophy/Mathematics, or equivalent disciplines is recommended.

Access to the Course
Master's Programme in Information Science. Other master students may apply for admission.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures and seminars
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Mandatory participation: Attendance at 80 % of course sessions is mandatory.

Compulsory requirements are only valid the semester they are approved.

Forms of Assessment
  • Oral individual exam (70%)
  • 4 graded assignments (30%)
  • The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.

    The exam answer must be submitted in the same language as the exam assignment.

    Grading Scale
    The grading system has a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail.
    Assessment Semester

    Assessment in teaching semester

    Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to eksamen.infomedia@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.

    Course Evaluation
    All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
    Programme Committee
    The Information Science Programme Committee at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies
    Course Administrator
    Department of Information Science and Media Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.