Defeasibility

/ˌdiːˌfiːzəˈbɪlɪti/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being defeasible; the capacity to be voided, overturned, or made void under certain conditions.

Etymology

From defeasible + -ity (noun of quality). A philosophical and legal term that emerged from the need to describe things that are conditionally valid.

Kelly Says

In philosophy and artificial intelligence, 'defeasibility' is huge—an argument might be logically sound but still wrong if new evidence emerges. It's why humans are so much better at reasoning than early AI: we understand that almost everything we 'know' is actually defeasible, subject to revision.

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