New Book: Argumentation Machines

Argumentation Machines
New Frontiers in Argument and Computation

edited by

Chris Reed
University of Dundee, Scotland, UK

Timothy J. Norman
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK


ARGUMENTATION
LIBRARY -- 9

This book represents the first coherent published work in bringing together
various branches of artificial intelligence with argumentation and rhetoric,
and, as such, aims to play a key role in the establishment of a new field of
scholarly research. The volume not only offers in-depth assessments of
existing research, but also represents a substantial advance in the state of
the art, and lays out a roadmap for future work in this newly emerging
cross-disciplinary field.

Computer scientists, and, in particular, Artificial Intelligence
researchers, have been inspired by the notions of argumentation for as
almost long as the field has existed. Scholars in the philosophy of language
and reasoning, and others studying language-use in the social sciences, can
trace ancient roots for models of argument that are descriptive, normative,
or cognitive. With both the computational and noncomputational work
generating substantial fields of research, it is surprising that direct
communication between the computational and non-computational sides has been
relatively limited until quite recently. Though there might be any number of
useful ways to identify foci for this potential interaction, this volume
explores a number of places at which a concerted effort might yield rich
rewards. The first is in multi-agent systems, where commitment-based models
of interaction between autonomous agents offer significant advantages to
agent-based systems designs, and computational models offer a means to
rigorously evaluate theories of dialogue. The second is in practical
reasoning, and in particular the role of supporting humans in such reasoning
through the application of rich and sophisticated models of argument. The
third is in law, where traditions of rhetoric and modern developments in
argumentation might be expected to drive new innovation in AI & Law systems
and theories. The fourth is in natural language generation, where models of
rhetoric and argument structure can be put to work as operational
definitions and algorithms for system design and implementation. And the
fifth picks up on the importance of rhetoric across different subfields,
identifying the roles that rhetorical models can play throughout AI, and
considering how such application might lead to new departures for rhetoric
itself.

Audience: This book is of interest to academics, researchers, PhD and
graduate students in philosophy of argument, logic, informal logic, critical
thinking, rhetoric, artificial intelligence, multi-agent systems,
computational linguistics, natural language processing, law, cognitive
science and the interdisciplinary areas between these fields.

Hardbound
ISBN: 1-4020-1811-8
Date: December 2003
Pages: 262 pp.
EURO 104.00 / USD 114.00 / GBP 72.00

To purchase this book, follow this link
http://kluwer.m0.net/m/s.asp?HB10562089648X2776195X263310X

To order this book offline, please contact:

THE AMERICAS
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Order Department, PO Box 358
Accord Station, Hingham, MA 02018-0358
USA
Telephone (781) 871-6600
Fax (781) 681-9045
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

EUROPE, ASIA, AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Book Department.
PO Box 322
3300 AH Dordrecht
The Netherlands
Telephone 31-78-657-60-00
Fax 31-78-657-64-74
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>