A multidisciplinary perspective on multi-agent systems

The theory, principles and practice of multi-agent systems is typically cha racterised as a computational and engineering discipline, since it is throu gh the medium of computational systems that artificial agent systems are mo st commonly expressed. However, most definitions of agency draw directly on non-computational disciplines for inspiration. During the 1999 UK workshop on multi-agent systems, UKMAS'99, we invited four speakers to address the conceptualisation of multi-agent systems from their perspective as non-comp uter scientists. This paper presents their arguments and summarises some of the key points of discussion during the panel.