Formalizing the FLINT Ontology: Building an action-oriented formal language for the interpretation of normative texts Frank J.A. Goossens Abstract: This thesis provides a full formalization of the formal language for the interpretation of normative texts of the TNO Norm Engineering Project. The FLINT language is built to give a standardized representation of the interpretations of normative texts (laws, contracts, guidelines etc.). The approach that FLINT takes towards modeling norms is an action-oriented approach. The idea is that norms tell us when certain normative actions can be performed, and what the consequences of those actions are. When a normative action is carried out, this results in a transition between normative states. These normative states describe facts that are of normative importance, such as whether an agent has a duty to perform an action. With the use of the FLINT formalization one should be able to answer the following key questions in a normative state: what can/should I do to others, what can/should others do to me, under what circumstances can/should we do that, and, most importantly, what happens when we do that? The FLINT formalization provides a computational theory of norms, upon which a computationally implementable language of norms can be based. At the start of this project, FLINT was still a semi-formal language, consisting only of an ontology. This thesis project built a full formalization of the FLINT ontology by describing the language in a syntax, and giving this language meaning with a formal semantics. This thesis therefore contributes towards the literature on the formalization of norms. The formalization, taking the FLINT ontology as a starting point, ensures that a systematic comparison with other formalizations of norms can be made.