Theory of Circumscription

The Theory of Circumscription is a method in logic and artificial intelligence that helps computers make decisions by assuming the most straightforward or default possibilities. It involves limiting or "circling" certain options to exclude unlikely or unnecessary alternatives, thus refining the range of choices. For example, when identifying objects in an image, the system considers typical features and narrows down possibilities, ignoring improbable ones. This approach simplifies complex reasoning by focusing on the most relevant information, allowing machines to draw reasonable conclusions without considering every possible scenario.