normIL

normIL is a programming language designed for normative reasoning and the specification of rules and obligations. It aims to provide a formal framework for representing and reasoning about conditional statements that involve obligations, prohibitions, and permissions. The language is structured to allow for the clear articulation of these normative concepts, making it useful in domains such as legal reasoning, policy enforcement, and artificial intelligence.

The core of normIL revolves around its ability to express "if-then" statements where the "then" part specifies a normative status. This can include obligations to perform an action, prohibitions against performing an action, or permissions to perform an action. The language supports the definition of complex conditions and the composition of these normative statements. It can also handle temporal aspects, allowing for rules that apply at specific times or over certain durations.

normIL's syntax is designed to be declarative, meaning users specify what the rules are rather than how to execute them. This focus on declaration allows for the development of sophisticated reasoning engines that can infer consequences, detect conflicts, and check for compliance with the specified norms. The language has been explored in research settings for its potential in building intelligent agents that can operate within a given set of rules and regulations, ensuring adherence and predictable behavior. Its applications extend to areas where compliance and ethical considerations are paramount.