[SKOS] ISSUE-123 Proposed Resolution

We propose the following resolution to [ISSUE-123]:

PROPOSED: Add a new property skos:topConceptInScheme to the SKOS vocabulary.
Add two new statements to the SKOS data model: skos:topConceptInScheme is a
sub-property of skos:inScheme, and skos:topConceptInScheme is the
owl:inverseOf skos:hasTopConcept.

== Rationale ==

The resolution [1] to [ISSUE-83] includes an entailment which must follow
from the SKOS data model, involving skos:inScheme and skos:hasTopConcept. 

However, the resolution [1] does not give the precise logical connection
between skos:inScheme and skos:hasTopConcept, nor does it specify how that
connection should be stated in the SKOS Reference.

We propose that the entailment in [1] follows because the inverse of
skos:hasTopConcept is a sub-property of skos:inScheme.

It has been suggested [2] that this condition be expressed using OWL axioms
involving an anonymous property. However, there are known issues with
anonymous properties in RDF [3].

Hence we propose to coin a new URI in the SKOS vocabulary,
skos:topConceptInScheme, naming a property which is the inverse of
skos:hasTopConcept and a sub-property of skos:inScheme.

It has also been suggested that this new property be named skos:topConceptOf
[4]. Naming is always an inherently subjective issue, and it is hard to
predict how a name will appeal to a wide audience. We propose
skos:topConceptInScheme to make it intuitively clear that this property is a
refinement (specialisation) of skos:inScheme. 

Kind regards,

Alistair
Sean

[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-swd-wg/2008May/0068.html
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-swd-wg/2008Jul/0043.html
[3] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.websem.2005.06.001
[4] http://www.w3.org/2008/07/29-swd-minutes.html
[ISSUE-83] http://www.w3.org/2006/07/SWD/track/issues/83
[ISSUE-123] http://www.w3.org/2006/07/SWD/track/issues/123

--
Alistair Miles
Senior Computing Officer
Image Bioinformatics Research Group
Department of Zoology
The Tinbergen Building
University of Oxford
South Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PS
United Kingdom
Web: http://purl.org/net/aliman
Email: alistair.miles@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1865 281993

Received on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 10:13:48 UTC