Two-layered logics for probabilities and belief functions over Belnap--Dunn logic

Abstract

This paper is an extended version of an earlier submission to WoLLIC 2023. We discuss two-layered logics formalising reasoning with probabilities and belief functions that combine the Lukasiewicz $[0,1]$-valued logic with Baaz $\triangle$ operator and the Belnap--Dunn logic. We consider two probabilistic logics that present two perspectives on the probabilities in the Belnap--Dunn logic: $\pm$-probabilities and $\mathbf{4}$-probabilities. In the first case, every event $\phi$ has independent positive and negative measures that denote the likelihoods of $\phi$ and $\neg\phi$, respectively. In the second case, the measures of the events are treated as partitions of the sample into four exhaustive and mutually exclusive parts corresponding to pure belief, pure disbelief, conflict and uncertainty of an agent in $\phi$. In addition to that, we discuss two logics for the paraconsistent reasoning with belief and plausibility functions. They equip events with two measures (positive and negative) with their main difference being whether the negative measure of $\phi$ is defined as the belief in $\neg\phi$ or treated independently as the plausibility of $\neg\phi$. We provide a sound and complete Hilbert-style axiomatisation of the logic of $\mathbf{4}$-probabilities and establish faithful translations between it and the logic of $\pm$-probabilities. We also show that the satisfiability problem in all logics is $\mathsf{NP}$-complete.