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Differences Between Belief and Knowledge Systems *
Author(s) -
Abelson Robert P.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1207/s15516709cog0304_4
Subject(s) - belief system , representation (politics) , epistemology , computer science , knowledge representation and reasoning , artificial intelligence , psychology , cognitive psychology , cognitive science , philosophy , political science , politics , law
Seven features which in practice seem to differentiate belief systems from knowledge systems are discussed. These are: nonconsensuality, “existence beliefs,” alternative worlds, evaluative components, episodic material, unboundedness, and variable credences. Each of these features gives rise to challenging representation problems. Progress on any of these problems within artificial intelligence would be helpful in the study of knowledge systems as well as belief systems, inasmuch as the distinction between the two types of systems is not absolute.