- From: Deborah McGuinness <dlm@ksl.stanford.edu>
- Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 23:33:27 -0800
- To: www-rdf-logic@w3.org
- CC: fikes@ksl.stanford.edu, dlm@ksl.stanford.edu
This message is to announce a new version of our document that specifies a formal semantics for the DAML-ONT language. The new document is available in 3 forms: word: www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/dlm/DAML-Ont-kif-axioms-001113.doc html: www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/dlm/DAML-Ont-kif-axioms-001113.html and text: www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/dlm/DAML-Ont-kif-axioms-001113.txt also, our DAML project page is being kept updated with new release pointers: www.ksl.stanford.edu/projects/daml/ The new document contains revisions that respond to the comments we received on the initial version of the document. In particular, this version makes clear that what is being presented is an axiomatic semantics for DAML-ONT and a prescription for producing a logical theory in KIF that is logically equivalent to a DAML-ONT ontology. Since KIF has a model theoretic semantics and the document specifies how to translate a DAML-ONT ontology into an equivalent KIF logical theory, we have in effect specified a model theoretic semantics for DAML-ONT. However, as was pointed out in several comments, the document itself does not directly specify a model theoretic semantics for DAML-ONT. There has been some discussion as to why we chose KIF as the language in which to axiomatize DAML-ONT. That is basically a design choice on our part. Our primary rationale for using KIF was to make the axiomatization as simple and easy to understand as possible for the broadest audience. The resulting axioms require assuming little more than conventional first order logic. They, for example, do not require the assumption of a set theory in addition to first order logic. The footnotes are intended to provide a reader who is familiar with predicate logic with enough information about KIF to understand the axioms. There will no doubt be multiple versions of DAML-ONT axiomatizations in multiple representation languages as the DAML community grows and matures. We hope that this one helps that growth and maturation by making the language easier to understand and to use. After we have reached consensus on this one, we are willing to provide a set theoretic semantics as well. Thanks to all those who provided feedback, particularly Pat Hayes. Your reviews and insights have been quite useful. More recent comments from Jeff Heflin and Dan Connolly will be responded to in our next update. As stated in the document, comments are welcome posted to the www-rdf-logic@w3.org distribution list. Richard and Deborah ======================= Deborah L. McGuinness Associate Director and Senior Research Scientist Knowledge Systems Laboratory Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305 dlm@ksl.stanford.edu voice 650 723 9770 fax 650 725 5850
Received on Tuesday, 14 November 2000 02:33:32 UTC