Abstract
We use the appeal of simplicity and an aversion to complexity in selecting a method for handling partial functions in logic. We conclude that avoiding the undefined by using underspecification is the preferred choice.
Supported by NSF grant CDA-9214957 and ARPA/ONR grant N00014-91-J-4123.
This material is based on work supported in part by ARPA/NSF Grant No. CCR-9014363, NASA/ARPA grant NAG-2-893, and AFOSR grant F49620-94-1-0198.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bijlsma, A. Semantics of quasi-boolean expressions. In Feijen, W.H.J., et al (eds.) Beauty is Our Business, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1990, 27–35.
Cheng, J.H., and C.B. Jones. On the usability of logics which handle partial functions. In: C. Morgan and J.C.P. Woodcock (eds.). Third Refinement Workshop, pp. 51–69. Workshops in Computing Series, Heidelberg, 1991.
Constable, R.L., and M.J. O'Donnell. A Programming Logic. Winthrop, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1978.
Dijkstra, E.W., and C.S. Scholten. Predicate Calculus and Program Semantics. Springer-Verlag, New York 1990.
Gries, D., and F.B. Schneider. A Logical Approach to Discrete Math. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1993.
Gries, D., and F.B. Schneider. Equational propositional logic. IPL 53 (1995), 145–152.
Jones, C.B. Partial functions and logics: a warning. IPL 54 (1995), 65–68.
Jones, C.B., and C.A. Middelburg. A typed logic of partial functions reconstructed classically. Acta Informatica 31 (1994), 399–430.
Scott, D.S. Existence and description in formal logic. In R. Schoenman (ed.) Bertrand Russell, Philosopher of the Century. St. Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 1967, 181–200.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gries, D., Schneider, F.B. (1995). Avoiding the undefined by underspecification. In: van Leeuwen, J. (eds) Computer Science Today. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1000. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0015254
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0015254
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-60105-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49435-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive