Programs with Common Sense

John McCarthy

Abstract

Interesting work is being done in programming computers to solve problems which require a high degree of intelligence in humans. However, certain elementary verbal reasoning processes so simple that they can be carried out by any non-feeble minded human have yet to be simulated by machine programs.

This paper will discuss programs to manipulate in a suitable formal language (most likely a part of the predicate calculus) common instrumental statements. The basic program will be either declarative or imperative sentences. When an imperative sentence is deduced the program takes a corresponging action. These actions may include printing sentences, moving sentences on lists, and reinitiating the basic deduction process on these lists.

Facilities will be provided for communication with humans in the system via manual intervention and display devices connected to the computer.