# Tunneling Neural Perception and Logic Reasoning through Abductive Learning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.01173 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.01173/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 4 Feb 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Neuro-Symbolic Entropy Regularization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.11250/) (2022)
- [ChatABL: Abductive Learning via Natural Language Interaction with ChatGPT](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.11107/) (2023)
- [Techniques for Symbol Grounding with SATNet](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.11072/) (2021)
- [A Pseudo-Semantic Loss for Autoregressive Models with Logical Constraints](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.03905/) (2023)
- [Semantic Strengthening of Neuro-Symbolic Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.14207/) (2023)
- [Semantic Loss Functions for Neuro-Symbolic Structured Prediction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.07387/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Perception and reasoning are basic human abilities that are seamlessly connected as part of human intelligence. However, in current machine learning systems, the perception and reasoning modules are incompatible. Tasks requiring joint perception and reasoning ability are difficult to accomplish autonomously and still demand human intervention. Inspired by the way language experts decoded Mayan scripts by joining two abilities in an abductive manner, this paper proposes the abductive learning framework. The framework learns perception and reasoning simultaneously with the help of a trial-and-error abductive process. We present the Neural-Logical Machine as an implementation of this novel learning framework. We demonstrate that--using human-like abductive learning--the machine learns from a small set of simple hand-written equations and then generalizes well to complex equations, a feat that is beyond the capability of state-of-the-art neural network models. The abductive learning framework explores a new direction for approaching human-level learning ability.