Simulating Generic Situations on Causal Models

One of the major advantages deriving from the adoption of deep physiological (or pathophysiological) knowledge is that such a kind of knowledge can be used for different problem solving activities. Aim of this paper is to describe how causal knowledge can be successfully used for simulation problem solving. In particular, in order to stress the claim that deep knowledge is reusable, we shall consider the causal modeling formalism we introduced in CHECK for diagnostic problem solving and, after introducing the notions of “simulated situation” and of “simulation”, we shall describe how the simulation of generic situations can be performed on a causal model. Through the analysis of several examples we shall discuss how the forms of explanation obtained from such reasoning processes can be very useful both to supplement the explanation capabilities of a diagnostic system and as a support for tutoring.