A rule complex is a set consisting of rules and/or other rule complexes. This is a generalization of a set of rules, and provides a tool to investigate and describe how rules can function as values, norms, judgmental or prescriptive rules, and meta-rules. Also possible is to examine objects consisting of rules such as roles, routines, algorithms, models of reality, social relationships, and institutions. In game theory, rules and rule complexes can be used to define the behavior and interactions of the players (although in generalized game theory, the rules are not necessarily static. Rule complexes are especially associated with sociologist Tom R. Burns and Anna Gomolinska and the Uppsala Theory Circle.

Formalization

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Rules

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In this setting, a rule is type of knowledge (in the sense of epistemic logic (see Fagin, 2003)) formalized as a set of premises or conditions, a set of justifications, and a set of conclusions (this may be written as a triple, a rule  ). Elements of X should hold, and of Y may hold. If Y, the justifications, do not hold, then the rule cannot be applied. If X, the premises, obtain and the justifications are not known to not apply, then the rule is applied, and   is concluded. If X and Y are empty, then the rule is axiomatic (a "fact" or unconditional directive). Thus, rules can be seen as the basic objects of knowledge.

Rule complex

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Formally, a rule complex is the class which contains all finite sets of rules, is closed under set-theoretical union and power set, and preserves inclusion:

  1. Any finite set of rules is a rule complex;
  2. If   are rule complexes, then   and   are rule complexes;
  3. If   and   is a rule complex, then   is a rule complex.

This means that for rule complexes   and  ,   are also rule complexes. A complex   is a subcomplex of the complex   if   or   may be obtained from   by deleting some rules from   and/or redundant parentheses (Burns, 2005).

References

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  • Fagin, Ronald et al. Reasoning about Knowledge. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003.
  • Burns T.R., Roszkowska E. (2005) Generalized Game Theory: Assumptions, Principles, and Elaborations Grounded in Social Theory, In Search of Social Order, “Studies in Logic, Grammar, and Rhetoric”, Vol. 8(21):7–40.
  • Gomolińska Anna, (1999) Rule complexes for representing social actors and interactions. "Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric", Volume 3(16):95–108.
  • Gomolińska, Anna (2004) Fundamental mathematical notions of the theory of

socially embedded games: A granular computing perspective. In S. K. Pal, L. Polkowski and A. Skowron (eds). "Rough-Neural Computing: Techniques for Computing with Words", Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pages 411–434.