Bayesian Reasoning in an Abductive Mechanism for Argument Generation and Analysis

Our argumentation system, NAG, uses Bayesian networks in a user model and in a normative model to assemble and assess arguments which balance persuasiveness with normative correctness. Attentional focus is simulated in both models to select relevant subnetworks for Bayesian propagation. The subnetworks are expanded in an iterative abductive process until argumentative goals are achieved in both models, when the argument is presented to the user.