Preferring the Most Specific Argument

Abstract

In this chapter I start the investigation of a second way of modelling reasoning with defeasible rules; this is the method of allowing for incompatible solutions to a problem and choosing the exceptional one if it exists. In this method exceptions can be left implicit: no use has to be made of exception or applicability clauses, since exceptions are identified as a result of the choice. As already mentioned in Chapter 3, when applied to legislation this method corresponds to application of the legal collision rule Lex Specialis Derogat Legi Generali.