Complexity of argument‐based default reasoning with specificity

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the complexity of Dung and Son's approach to default reasoning with specificity. We show that the three decision problems: existence of extensions, brave reasoning and cautious reasoning are generally complete for the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. For some restricted cases, e.g., Horn and 2CNF default theories, all the three problems are intractable although classical brave reasoning in these cases is tractable. Finally, we show that stratification can not reduce the complexity of brave and cautious reasoning although it guarantees the existence of extensions.