In this paper we propose a metatheory, MT which represents the computation which implements its object theory, OT, and, in particular, the computation which implements deduction in OT. To emphasize this fact we say that MT is a metatheory of a mechanized object theory. MT has some "unusual" properties, e.g. it explicitly represents failure in the application of inference rules, and the fact that large amounts of the code implementing OT are partial, i.e. they work only for a limited class of inputs. These properties allow us to use MT to express and prove tactics, i.e. expressions which specify how to compose possibly failing applications of inference rules, to interpret them procedurally to assert theorems in OT, to compile them into the system implementation code, and, finally, to generate MT automatically from the system code. The definition of MT is part of a larger project which aims at the implementation of self-reflective systems, i.e. systems which are able to intros...

In this paper we present a first order classical metatheory, called MT, with the following properties: (1) tactics are terms of the language of MT (we call these tactics, Logic Tactics); (2) there exists a mapping between Logic Tactics and the tactics developed as programs within the GETFOL theorem prover (we call these tactics, Program Tactics). MT is expressive enough to represent the most interesting tacticals, i.e. then, orelse, try, progress and repeat. repeat allows us to express Logic Tactics which correspond to Program Tactics which may not terminate. This work is part of a larger project which aims at the development and mechanization of a metatheory which can be used to reason about, extend and, possibly, modify the code implementing Program Tactics and the GETFOL basic inference rules.

Introspective systems have been proved useful in several applications, especially in the area of automated reasoning. In this paper we propose to use structured algebraic specifications to describe the embedded account of introspective systems. Our main result is that extending such an introspective system in a valid manner can be reduced to development of correct software. Since sound extension of automated reasoning systems again can be reduced to valid extension of introspective systems, our work can be seen as a foundation for extensible introspective reasoning systems, and in particular for reflective provers. We prove correctness of our mechanism and report on first experiences we have made with its realization in the KIV system (Karlsruhe Interactive Verifier).

nominal rewriting and efficiently computable nominal algebra equality