ABSTRACT
Our main goal in this chapter is to introduce a way of conceptualization of some variants of multiagent systems that differ in the level of organization of cooperation among the agents and in computational capabilities of the agents. First we introduce a relatively broad understanding of multiagent systems and relate them with the generative paradigm of studying complex systems. Then we demonstrate the functioning of the multiagent paradigm in some approaches of artificial intelligence to problem solving, knowledge representation and processing etc., and in approaches of some closely related fields. We mention some rather general (philosophical) problems related with the multiagent paradigm. Then, after sketching our formalization of multiagent systems using tools and techniques of the theory of formal grammars and languages, we preview the contents of the following chapters.
