There is no need to emphasize how important modal logic has become to many areas, such as philosophy, computer science, and other fields. Professor Johan van Benthem started his research in the 1970s with a Ph.D. thesis on modal correspondence theory, and the general model theory of modal logic. Since that time, he has worked with a 'tandem approach' developing modal languages and classical ones (first-order, or higher-order) side by side. He has used these formalisms to study temporal and spatial reasoning, but in particular, since the 'Dynamic Turn' in the 1980s, he has worked on developing new modal and dynamic theories of information and computation. Investigating the dynamics of information update, belief revision, and preference change provides a clearer understanding of how information flows and communication works. In particular, in this setting, interaction between different agents has become a central theme in his papers of modal logics of games.
A translation project was started from October 2006, funded by the University of Amsterdam. The aim was to translate van Benthem's papers on the above modal logic related topics into Chinese, making his work accessible to a wide variety of Chinese readers in various disciplines. The translators are a group of young Chinese logicians: Jiahong Guo (Beijing Normal University), Meiyun Guo (SouthWest University, Yizhao Hu (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Fenrong Liu (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and University of Amsterdam), Xinwen Liu (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Jiangjie Qiu (Peking University), and Junwei Yu (Renmin University). For more information on the translation project, please visit our Links Page.
Much information concerning text understanding and logical issues has been exchanged between van Benthem and the translators. The translation work has recently been finalized, and the book is now in the process of being published. The goal of this Workshop is to bring together the author and the translators, discuss further research questions emanating from the papers, evaluate the translation experience as such, and seek common interests for future research.
Workshop organizers:
Fenrong Liu (email: fenrong@science.uva.nl)
Junwei Yu (email: junweirenda@yahoo.com.cn)
Xinwen Liu (email: x_wliucass@yahoo.com.cn)
Please feel free to email us with any questions you have.
Sponsors:
The Association of Logic in Beijing; University of Amsterdam.