Logical Dynamics of Information and Interaction

This book develops a view of logic as a theory of information-driven agency and intelligent interaction between many agents - with conversation, argumentation and games as guiding examples. It provides one uniform account of dynamic logics for acts of inference, observation, questions and communication, that can handle both update of knowledge and revision of beliefs. It then extends the dynamic style of analysis to include changing preferences and goals, temporal processes, group action and strategic interaction in games. Throughout, the book develops a mathematical theory unifying all these systems, and positioning them at the interface of logic, philosophy, computer science and game theory. A series of further chapters explores repercussions of the 'dynamic stance' for these areas, as well as cognitive science.

Preface; 1. Logical dynamics, agency, and intelligent interaction; 2. Epistemic logic and semantic information; 3. Dynamic logic of public observation; 4. Multi-agent dynamic-epistemic logic; 5. Dynamics of inference and awareness; 6. Questions and issue management; 7. Soft information, correction, and belief change; 8. An encounter with probability; 9. Preference statics and dynamics; 10. Decisions, actions, and games; 11. Processes over time; 12. Epistemic group structure and collective agency; 13. Logical dynamics in philosophy; 14. Computation as conversation; 15. Rational dynamics in game theory; 16. Meeting cognitive realities; 17. Conclusion; Bibliography.

Johan van Benthem is University Professor of Logic at the University of Amsterdam, Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University, and Weilun Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is the author of Language in Action (1991) and Exploring Logical Dynamics (1996) and an editor of the Handbook of Modal Logic (2006), the Handbook of Spatial Logics (2007) and Philosophy of Information (2008).