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Archive for December, 2009

Call for Papers: ArgMAS 2010

CALL FOR PAPERS:

Seventh International Workshop on

ARGUMENTATION IN MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS (ArgMAS 2010)

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/irahwan/argmas/argmas10/

Toronto, Canada

10 or 11 May 2010

International Workshop to be held in conjunction with AAMAS 2010

http://www.cse.yorku.ca/AAMAS2010/

The ArgMAS Workshop series web site:

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/irahwan/argmas/

Overview

This workshop will focus on the concepts, theories, methodologies, and applications of computational models of argumentation in building autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. Argumentation can be abstractly defined as the formal interaction of different arguments for and against some conclusion (eg, a proposition, an action intention, a preference, etc.). An agent may use argumentation techniques to perform individual reasoning, in order to resolve conflicting evidence or to decide between conflicting goals.   Multiple agents may also use dialectical argumentation in order to identify and reconcile differences between themselves, through interactions such as negotiation, persuasion, and joint deliberation.

The main goal of ArgMAS 2010 will be to bring together the community of researchers working on argumentation in multi-agent systems. The workshop has the following technical goals:

– To explore the use of argumentation in practical reasoning.

– To investigate how argumentation can be used to enable rational interaction between autonomous agents.

– To explore the applicability of argumentation for solving a variety of problems in multi-agent systems, such as information exchange, negotiation, team formation, deliberation, etc.

– To explore strategic reasoning and behavior in argumentation-based interaction.

– To understand how argumentation relates to other areas of multiagent research, such as game theory, agent communications, and planning.

– To present and encourage implemented systems which demonstrate the use of argumentation in multi-agent systems.

– The workshop will solicit papers looking at both theory and practice. In particular, the workshop aims at bridging the gap between the vast amount of work on argumentation theory and the practical needs of multi-agent systems research.

(more…)

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Welcome to RAIL

Welcome to RAIL!

This is a blog for scholars engaged in the study of reasoning, argumentation theory, informal logic, rhetoric, and critical thinking.  It is intended to be as inclusive and interdisciplinary as is the field of argumentation theory itself.

I chose the name ‘RAIL’ not only for its convenience as an acronym, but because I like the sense of motion and direction it conveys. I am optimistic about the future of argumentation theory: I think it is going somewhere as a field of study, and that it has a lot of promise.  There’s also something suggestive of travel in the name ‘RAIL’ which I like, as it rings true to the international and interdisciplinary nature of the study of argumentation. Argumentation theorists do a lot of traveling across physical borders to attend each other’s conferences and workshops, and we do a lot of border crossing of a different kind as we collaborate across academic disciplines in the work that we do. I’m hoping RAIL will be at least some small contribution to that work.

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