Deviant Causal Chains in XSTIT Logic

Abstract

Deviant causal chain examples were first introduced as counterexamples to the philosophical causal theory of action, which encompasses the view that actions are events and that an event is an action if and only if it is rationalized and caused by the agent's beliefs and desires. This thesis investigates if it is possible to model deviant causal chains in XSTIT logic, a form of STIT logic. STIT logic is a philosophical logic of agency and can model properties and aspects of agency such that an agent is making a choice. With the help of theorem prover SPASS, logical properties of the logical frameworks are investigated. Deviant causal chains cannot be modeled in XSTIT logic, at least not within one step. Modeling deviant causal chains in multiple steps seems possible, but does not capture the essence of the deviant causal chain examples. More research is necessary to answer the question if causal relations can be modeled in STIT logic.