Unifying Theories of Undefinedness

Woodcock, J; Saaltink, M; Freitas, L

doi:10.3233/978-1-58603-976-9-311

Unifying Theories of Undefinedness

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Leo Freitas ORCiD

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Abstract

We propose a unifying theory of undefined expressions in logics used for formally specifying software systems. We show how to use classical logic to prove facts in a monotonic partial logic with guards, and we exhibit guards for several different semantical systems. We show how classical logic can be used to prove semi-classical facts. The mechanical theorem prover Z/Eves is used to prove facts about semi-classical Z specifications, although it uses classical logic; it does this with guards from McCarthy logic. It can also be used to prove facts about VDM specifications. The use of left-to-right guards guarantees, for example, that every theorem proved in Z/Eves is valid in VDM and in Z.