Automated Reasoning, Fast and Slow

Abstract

Psychologists have argued that human behavior is the result of the interaction between two different cognitive modules. System 1 is
fast, intuitive, and error-prone, whereas System 2 is slow, logical, and reliable. When it comes to reasoning, the field of automated deduction has focused its attention on the slow System 2 processes. We argue that there is an increasing role for forms of reasoning that are closer to System 1 particularly in tasks that involve uncertainty, partial knowledge, and discrimination. The interaction between these two systems of reasoning is also fertile ground for further exploration. We present some tentative and preliminary speculation on the prospects for automated reasoning in the style of System 1, and the synergy with the more traditional System 2 strand of work. We explore this interaction by focusing on the use of cues in perception, reasoning, and communication.