# Ensuring trustworthy and ethical behaviour in intelligent logical agents

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.07547 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.07547/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 9 of its 119 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 12 Feb 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Foundations for Restraining Bolts: Reinforcement Learning with LTLf/LDLf restraining specifications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1807.06333/) (2018)
- [Landscape of Machine Implemented Ethics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.00335/) (2020)
- [Towards a Framework for Certification of Reliable Autonomous Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.09124/) (2020)
- [Practical Verification of Decision-Making in Agent-Based Autonomous Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1310.2431/) (2013)
- [Towards Ethical Machines Via Logic Programming](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.08255/) (2019)
- [Logic Programming and Machine Ethics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.11186/) (2020)
- [From Model Checking to Runtime Verification and Back](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1805.12428/) (2018)
- [A Temporal Module for Logical Frameworks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.08256/) (2019)
- [Self-checking Logical Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.05157/) (2021)

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

- [The Behavioral Fabric of LLM-Powered GUI Agents: Human Values and Interaction Outcomes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.16356/) (2026)
- [Deontic Temporal Logic for Formal Verification of AI Ethics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.05765/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Autonomous Intelligent Agents are employed in many applications upon which the life and welfare of living beings and vital social functions may depend. Therefore, agents should be trustworthy. A priori certification techniques (i.e., techniques applied prior to system's deployment) can be useful, but are not sufficient for agents that evolve, and thus modify their epistemic and belief state, and for open Multi-Agent Systems, where heterogeneous agents can join or leave the system at any stage of its operation. In this paper, we propose/refine/extend dynamic (runtime) logic-based self-checking techniques, devised in order to be able to ensure agents' trustworthy and ethical behaviour.