State Algebra for Probabilistic Logic

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Probabilistic State Algebra that extends propositional logic to construct Markov Random Fields using linear algebra, enabling interpretable probabilistic models with logical constraints.

Contribution

It presents a novel algebraic framework that integrates logical states with energy potentials, facilitating probabilistic inference without traditional graph algorithms.

Findings

Constructs formal Gibbs distributions from logical states.

Develops Probabilistic Rule Models combining probabilistic and deterministic constraints.

Supports interpretable, human-in-the-loop decision systems.

Abstract

This paper presents a Probabilistic State Algebra as an extension of deterministic propositional logic, providing a computational framework for constructing Markov Random Fields (MRFs) through pure linear algebra. By mapping logical states to real-valued coordinates interpreted as energy potentials, we define an energy-based model where global probability distributions emerge from coordinate-wise Hadamard products. This approach bypasses the traditional reliance on graph-traversal algorithms and compiled circuits, utilising $t$-objects and wildcards to embed logical reduction natively within matrix operations. We demonstrate that this algebra constructs formal Gibbs distributions, offering a rigorous mathematical link between symbolic constraints and statistical inference. A central application of this framework is the development of Probabilistic Rule Models (PRMs), which are uniquely capable of incorporating both probabilistic associations and deterministic logical constraints simultaneously. These models are designed to be inherently interpretable, supporting a human-in-the-loop approach to decisioning in high-stakes environments such as healthcare and finance. By representing decision logic as a modular summation of rules within a vector space, the framework ensures that complex probabilistic systems remain auditable and maintainable without compromising the rigour of the underlying configuration space.