# Ceteris paribus logic in counterfactual reasoning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1606.07522 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.07522/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 24 Jun 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [A unified logical framework for explanations in classifier systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.14452/) (2021)
- [Permissible Knowledge Pooling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.03418/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The semantics for counterfactuals due to David Lewis has been challenged on the basis of unlikely, or impossible, events. Such events may skew a given similarity order in favour of those possible worlds which exhibit them. By updating the relational structure of a model according to a ceteris paribus clause one forces out, in a natural manner, those possible worlds which do not satisfy the requirements of the clause. We develop a ceteris paribus logic for counterfactual reasoning capable of performing such actions, and offer several alternative (relaxed) interpretations of ceteris paribus. We apply this framework in a way which allows us to reason counterfactually without having our similarity order skewed by unlikely events. This continues the investigation of formal ceteris paribus reasoning, which has previously been applied to preferences, logics of game forms, and questions in decision-making, among other areas.