Towards a logical reconstruction of information retrieval theory

Here we expand on a previous paper concerning the role of logic in informat ion retrieval (IR) modelling. In that paper, among other things, we had poi nted out how different ways of understanding the contribution of logic to I R have sprung from the (always unstated) adherence to either the total or t he partial knowledge assumption. Here we make our analysis more precise by relating this dichotomy to the notion of vividness, as used in knowledge re presentation, and to another dichotomy that has had a profound influence in database theory, namely, the distinction between the proof-theoretic and t he model-theoretic views of a database, spelled out by Kelter in his "logic al reconstruction of database theory." We show that precisely the same dist inction can be applied to logical models of IR developed so far. The streng ths and weaknesses of the adoption of either approach in logical models of IR are discussed.