Discussion Paper: Changing Norms Is Changing Obligation Change

Norm change is one of the main challenges for normative reasoning. This discussion paper presents some novel informal and semi-formal ideas regarding the nature and formalization of norm change. First, we contrast the second-order nature of norm change with the first-order nature of obligation change. Second, we discuss how to change the normative system to avoid future obligations in the input/output logic framework, which explicitly distinguishes norms from obligations. Third, we present a semantical two dimensional view on change. Fourth, we illustrate norm change using automata changing automata. Fifth, we compare norm change with analogous mechanisms in non-normative contexts.