Toward a Theory of Assurance Case Confidence

Abstract

Assurance cases provide an argument and evidence explaining why a claim about some system property holds. This report outlines a framework for justifying confidence in the truth of such an assurance case claim. The framework is based on the notion of eliminative induction - the principle (first put forward by Francis Bacon) that confidence in the truth of a hypothesis (or claim) increases as reasons for doubting its truth are identified and eliminated. Possible reasons for doubting the truth of a claim (defeaters) arise from analyzing an assurance case using defeasible reasoning concepts. Finally, the notion of Baconian probability provides a measure of confidence based on how many defeaters have been identified and eliminated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA609836

Entities

People

  • Ari Z. Klein
  • Charles Weinstock
  • John B. Goodenough

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

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  • Abstracts
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Civil Engineering
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  • Mathematics
  • Probability
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Fields of Study

  • Philosophy

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