non-monotonic systems

Non-monotonic systems are those where adding new information can change or even reverse previous conclusions. Unlike traditional logical systems where conclusions only grow or stay the same as new facts are added, non-monotonic systems reflect real-world reasoning more accurately, allowing for flexible decision-making that adapts when new evidence emerges. For example, a medical diagnosis may change if additional symptoms are discovered, illustrating how knowledge updates can remove or alter earlier assumptions. This adaptability makes non-monotonic systems useful for modeling complex, real-life situations where information is incomplete or constantly evolving.