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INFER.TXT
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1988-03-22
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INFER is a simple computer program that can solve the hypothetical
syllogism. A syllogism is a short argument form consisting of one or more
premises and a conclusion, which is inferred from the data. Following is a
syllogism from the time of Aristotle:
Socrates is a man.
A man is mortal.
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
INFER has four kinds of statements -
a) declarations,
b) queries,
c) requests,
d) inquiries.
Although queries, requests and inquiries are synonyms, they each have a
different function in this program.
A: Declarations
===============
Data is declared in the following way -
-> <noun phrase> is <noun phrase>
A noun phrase consists of an optional article, optional adjectives and a
noun, with the predicate 'is' (which must be in lower case). For example,
-> Socrates is a man
Noted
-> A man is mortal
Noted
B: Queries
==========
Queries (which are answered either 'Yes' or 'I don't know') have the
following form -
-> is <noun phrase> a <noun phrase>
-> is Socrates a man?
Yes
C: Requests
===========
Requests ask for all the data known about something, for example
-> request Socrates
Socrates is ...
man
D: Inquiries
============
Inquiries receive more data than a query or a request, for example
-> who is a man?
Socrates is a man
-> who is mortal?
A man is mortal
The following are rather more complex examples, and show how new relations
can be defined in terms of previous ones.
-> an impecunious person is a borrower of money
Noted
-> a composer is an impecunious person
Noted
-> Mozart is a composer
Noted
-> is Mozart a borrower of money?
Yes
-> is Haydn a borrower of money?
I have no data concerning Haydn
-> Haydn is a composer
Noted
-> is Haydn a borrower of money?
Yes
-> who is a borrower of money?
composer is a borrower of money
impecunious person is a borrower of money
Mozart is a borrower of money
Haydn is a borrower of money