The anomalous extension problem in default reasoning (Q1104922)

\textit{S. Hanks} and \textit{D. McDermott} [Proc. AAAI-86, Philadelphia, PA, 328-333 (1986)] presented for temporal reasoning in nonmonotonic logic an example with two incompatible extensions such that one of them is counter-intuitive. The paper first shows that such an effect is not tied with temporal logic but can be found also in usual nonmonotonic reasoning. As a first way out the author discusses the use of the truth maintenance systems of \textit{J. Doyle} [Artif. Intell. 12, 231-272 (1979)]. This leads him to another way out: the essential use of nonnormal default rules. Finally, this forces him to speculate upon different ways of inconsistency handling in nonmonotonic reasoning. A stimulating paper.