Tractability of Theory Patching

In this paper we consider the problem of theory patching, in which we are given a domain theory, some of whose components are indicated to be possibly awed, and a set of labeled training examples for the domain concept. The theory patching problem is to revise only the indicated components of the theory, such that the resulting theory correctly classi es all the training examples. Theory patching is thus a type of theory revision in which revisions are made to individual components of the theory. Our concern in this paper is to determine for which classes of logical domain theories the theory patching problem is tractable. We consider both propositional and rst-order domain theories, and show that the theory patching problem is equivalent to that of determining what information contained in a theory is stable regardless of what revisions might be performed to the theory. We show that determining stability is tractable if the input theory satis es two conditions: that revisions to each...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 1998
• Where: CORR
• Authors: Shlomo Argamon-Engelson, Moshe Koppel
• Keywords: CORR 1998, Domain Theory, Education, Patching, Theory