The main goal of this paper is to describe a new semantic for conditional independence in terms of no double counting of uncertain evidence. For ease of exposition, we use probability calculus to state all results. But the results generalize easily to any calculus that fits in the framework of valuation-based systems. Thus, the results described in this paper apply also, for example, to Dempster-Shafer’s (D-S) belief function theory, to Spohn’s epistemic beliefs theory, and to Zadeh’s possibility theory. The concept of independent (or distinct) evidence in D-S belief function theory is analogous to the concept of conditional independence for variables in probability theory.
Keywords. Conditional independence, no double counting semantics, distinct evidence, independent pieces of evidence, graphoid axioms, Dempster-Shafer’s belief function theory, Spohn’s epistemic beliefs theory, possibility theory, valuation-based systems.
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Authors addresses:
School of Business
University of Kansas
1300 Sunnyside Av
313B Summerfield Hall
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7585
USA
E-mail addresses:
| Prakash P. Shenoy | pshenoy@ku.edu |
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