Abstract
This paper introduces a new Inductive, Logic programming. (ILP) framework called Top Directed Hypothesis Derivation (TDHD) In this framework each hypothesised clause must be derivable from a given logic program called top theory (T). The top theory call be viewed as a declarative bias which defines the hypothesis space. This replaces the metalogical mode, statements which are used ill many ILP) systems. Firstly we present a theoretical framework for TDHD and show that standard SLID derivation call be used to efficiently derive hypotheses from) T. Secondly. we present a prototype implementation of TDHD within a new ILP system called TopLog. Thirdly. we show that the accuracy and efficiency of TopLog, oil several benchmark datasets, is competitive with a state of the art ILP system like Aleph.