Impossibility results for belief contraction (Q2294582)

This paper proves the logical incompatibility of some plausible properties of an operation of belief contraction \(\operatorname{div}\) on a finite-based belief set, such that for any sentence \(p\) the outcome \(K\operatorname{div} p\) is also a finite-based belief set. A belief set is said to be finite-based if there exists some finite set \(B\) such that \(K = Cn(B)\). The paper under review presents some impossibility results concerning the properties of an operation of belief contraction \(\operatorname{div}\) on a finite-based belief set which satisfies the following postulate, that was introduced in [\textit{S. O. Hansson}, Stud. Log. 100, No. 5, 907--920 (2012; Zbl 1317.03022)]: If \(K\) is finite-based, then so is \(K \operatorname{div} p\) (finite-based outcome). The main results presented (and proved) in this paper can be summarized as follows: If \(\operatorname{div}\) is an operation on a finite-based belief set \(K\) that satisfies finite-based outcome, then \begin{itemize} \item[(a)] The operation \(\operatorname{div}\) does not satisfy (simultaneously) the two following properties: There is some \(p \in K\) such that \(K\operatorname{div} p \nvdash p\) (minimal success). If \(p \in K \setminus Cn(\emptyset)\), then there is no non-tautologous sentence \(q\) such that \(p \vdash q\) and \(K\operatorname{div} p \cap Cn(q) = Cn(\emptyset)\) (no implied eradication). \item[(b)] The operation \(\operatorname{div}\) does not satisfy (simultaneously) the two following properties: \(Cn(K\operatorname{div} p) \subset K\) for some sentence \(p\) (reducibility); There is no non-tautologous sentence \(q \in K\) such that \(K\operatorname{div} p \cap Cn(q) = Cn(\emptyset)\) (no eradication). \end{itemize} We note that the above mentioned properties ``no implied eradication'' and ``no eradication'' are two strengthenings of the negation of the following property, introduced in [\textit{S. O. Hansson}, J. Appl. Log. 10, No. 1, 75--84 (2012; Zbl 1253.03007)]: \(K\operatorname{div} p \cap Cn(p) = Cn(\emptyset)\) (eradication success).