Fwd: [pedantic-web] Re: skos:[exactMatch|closeMatch|broader|narrower] vs owl:sameAs

Hi all,

An issue that came up on the Pedantic Web mailinglist: the OWL  
namespace URI does not (yet) redirect to the new owl.owl file as  
specified by Michael.

Best,

Rinke

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Rinke Hoekstra <hoekstra@few.vu.nl>
> Date: 4 november 2009 08:58:33 GMT+01:00
> To: pedantic-web@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [pedantic-web] Re: skos:[exactMatch|closeMatch|broader| 
> narrower] vs owl:sameAs
>
> Hi,
>
> On 4 nov 2009, at 03:20, Kingsley Idehen wrote:
>>> This follows from the Direct Model-Theoretic Semantics for OWL [1].
>>
>> Where does it state that its Symmetric and Transitive? The property  
>> has a URI.
>
> As Richard says, it is in the spec. The URI of the property has  
> nothing to do with it, other than that it indicates that the sameAs  
> property is defined within the OWL namespace...
>
>> My fundamental point: should we be arguing about the meaning of  
>> something in prose when it has a URI that should convey its exact  
>> semantics?
>
> URI's don't convey semantics, formal specifications do.
>
>> Example: http://linkeddata.uriburner.com/about/html/http/www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core%01narrowerTransitive 
>>  . Compare that to: http://linkeddata.uriburner.com/about/html/http/www.w3.org/2002/07/owl%01sameAs
>
> The URL above does not specify the semantics of owl:sameAs, it is  
> 'just' a non-normative RDF schema description of the primitives of  
> OWL. It was never meant as a normative reference, and IMHO it is  
> wildly confusing.
>
> Nonetheless, the URI should redirect to the new OWL 2 compliant  
> owl.owl file as specified by the OWL WG. I will take this up with  
> the responsible persons.
>
>> As you can see here is the basic problem: one thing preached (stuff  
>> all that matters in structured form behind a URI) but a totally  
>> different thing in reality. The debate about "owl:sameAs" would be  
>> best served by its URI conveying its semantics unambiguously.
>
> The new owl.owl file does specify owl:sameAs as transitive and  
> symmetric. Even so, one should refer to the normative documents when  
> digging for the semantics of OWL 2 primitives.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rinke
>
>>> However, I don't know what that has to do with Evan's question,  
>>> which was about applying SKOS properties to things other than  
>>> skos:Concepts.
>> Well, if you look at what Evan is seeking, its about alternatives  
>> to his use of owl:sameAs, at least that's how I read his comments.
>>
>>
>> Kingsley
>>>
>>> That being said, welcome to the list. Again, please tread lightly.  
>>> This is not the right forum to advance particular worldviews on  
>>> how to get the most value out of SemWeb technologies, no matter  
>>> how right you might be.
>>>
>>> All the best,
>>> Richard
>>>
>>> [1] http://www.w3.org/TR/owl-semantics/direct.html#3.3
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3 Nov 2009, at 21:18, Kingsley Idehen wrote:
>>>> Take 2: you are full entitled to make co-reference claims in your  
>>>> data space. If you deem identifiers X & Y as referring to the  
>>>> same thing (in your world view) then by all means say so. Of  
>>>> course, its better if you ensure that you co-referenced entities  
>>>> are of the same Type, so a Document != Person etc..
>>>>
>>>> The semantics of owl:sameAs are quite unambiguous, no where is  
>>>> the definition is Transitivity or  Symmetry inferred or implied  
>>>> as part of the definition of this property. It is exactly as  
>>>> defined in the spec, a mechanism for co-reference assertions by  
>>>> the owner of a Data Space.
>>>>
>>>> Reasoning over you assertions, like all things in life, is a  
>>>> purely subjective act on the part of the entity (human or agent)  
>>>> that seeks to reason based on your assertions. Of course, clarity  
>>>> helps.
>>>>
>>>> The label "owl:sameAs" cannot override the actual description of  
>>>> the property. Strangely, people remain fixated on the "label"  
>>>> rather than the formally defined semantics [1][2] :-(
>>>>
>>>> To conclude, reasoning is an optional and subjective act, co- 
>>>> references between entities of the same type (is desired and very  
>>>> nice to have), you are totally entitled to your "world view" on  
>>>> the Web just as you are in real life, of course quality matters,  
>>>> but being "nearly pregnant" is the kind of quality Linked Dta  
>>>> needs :-)
>>>>
>>>> Links:
>>>>
>>>> 1. http://linkeddata.uriburner.com/about/html/http/www.w3.org/2002/07/owl%01sameAs
>>>> 2. http://www.w3.org/TR/owl-ref/#sameAs-def
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Kingsley Idehen          Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen
>>>> President & CEO OpenLink Software     Web: http:// 
>>>> www.openlinksw.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Kingsley Idehen	      Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen
>> President & CEO OpenLink Software     Web: http://www.openlinksw.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ---
> Dr Rinke Hoekstra
>
> AI Department         |   Leibniz Center for Law
> Faculty of Sciences   |   Faculty of Law
> Vrije Universiteit    |   Universiteit van Amsterdam
> De Boelelaan 1081a    |   Kloveniersburgwal 48
> 1081 HV Amsterdam     |   1012 CX  Amsterdam
> +31-(0)20-5987752     |   +31-(0)20-5253499
> hoekstra@few.vu.nl    |   hoekstra@uva.nl
>
> Homepage: http://www.few.vu.nl/~hoekstra
>
>
>
>


---
Dr Rinke Hoekstra

AI Department         |   Leibniz Center for Law
Faculty of Sciences   |   Faculty of Law
Vrije Universiteit    |   Universiteit van Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1081a    |   Kloveniersburgwal 48
1081 HV Amsterdam     |   1012 CX  Amsterdam
+31-(0)20-5987752     |   +31-(0)20-5253499
hoekstra@few.vu.nl    |   hoekstra@uva.nl

Homepage: http://www.few.vu.nl/~hoekstra

Received on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 08:01:26 UTC