Computational reflection via mechanized logical deduction

In this article, we show how a system for automated deduction can be given computational reflection, i.e., can affect its own computation mechanism, by using the very same machinery implementing logical deduction. This feature, which we call computational reflection via mechanized logical deduction, provides both theoretical and practical advantages. First, the theorem prover can inspect, extend, and modify its own underlying theorem-proving strategies automatically. Second, mechanized logical deduction can be used to reason about the ways these strategies can be extended and modified and to prove correctness statements. This opens up the possibility of building systems that are able to perform correct and safe, reflective self-extension and self-modification. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.