- From: Graham Klyne <Graham.Klyne@zoo.ox.ac.uk>
- Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:15:00 +0000
- To: Paolo Missier <Paolo.Missier@ncl.ac.uk>
- CC: Khalid Belhajjame <Khalid.Belhajjame@cs.man.ac.uk>, W3C provenance WG <public-prov-wg@w3.org>
On 14/01/2012 15:41, Paolo Missier wrote: > Graham > > the bottom line is that if we want specializationOf to be a special case (a > sub-relation of) alternateOf, as Khalid has proposed, then (it seems to me that) > you cannot define alternateOf in terms of specializationOf: > > alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : > specializationOf(a,c) and > specializationOf(b,c) > > (or variations as you show below). > > In fact Khalid and I now have come to believe that this definition is too > strong, in addition to leading to problems for transitivity. Hmmm... I accept that this might be the case, but I'm not seeing why this definition is "too strong". Can you elucidate a little?) OTOH, if you prefer to go with alternativeOf and speclializationOf as primitives, with the appropriate intuitions asserted as constraints, I think that's fine too. (Did you see my other response on this? I'm not sure if it's relevant. Even if it's not part of the published framework, knowing that there's a way to axiomatize the desired properties might be handy - if it works!) #g -- > And yes, transitivity seems quite natural for this relation. It leads not to a > lattice of alternates for an entity, but more simply to a cluster of alternates. > So I propose that alternateOf is a primitive relation, i.e., not defined in > terms of any other, and on the other hand > > specializationOf \subset alternateOf > > (and I am still late in my updates to the doc, apologies) > > -Paolo > > > > problem is On 1/13/12 3:18 PM, Graham Klyne wrote: >> On 13/01/2012 12:44, Paolo Missier wrote: >>> Graham >>> >>> glad you agree, however meanwhile I spotted a problem in my own proposal that >>> entities should form a lattice. It doesn't sit well with your axiom, because >>> >>> alternateOf(a, b) and >>> alternateOf(c, d) >>> >>> it follows that a,b,c,d are /all/ alternate of each other (because their def. is >>> now based on specialization, and specialization is transitive, and there is a >>> Top where they all meet). >> Oh yes. I guess you need multiple non-overlapping lattices, where each tops out >> in its own "real world thing". >> >>> But this is too much :-) >>> >>> something has to give... let me sit on transitivity of alternate while I fix the >>> rest of the text >> Of course. Is the transitivity of alternativeOf actually important for anything? >> >> ... >> >> I just had a thought, but there may be errors here as my head isn't really in >> this context right now. >> >> Roughly, instead of defining: >> >> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : >> specializationOf(a,c) and >> specializationOf(b,c) >> >> use something like: >> >> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : >> specializationOf(a,c) and >> specializationOf(b,c) and >> not exists (d) : specializationOf(c,d) and >> >> I think all the other proofs using "specializationOf" still work. >> >> Hmmm... we still need to assert or prove uniqueness of the c above. How about >> defining a new relation: >> >> specializeTop(a, b) == >> specializationOf(a, b) and >> not exists (z) : specializationOf(b, z) >> >> Then we can assert: >> >> specializeTop(a, b) and specializeTop(a, c) => b = c >> >> (which is the lattice-like constraint) Then, if alternateOf is defined in terms >> of specializeTop, I think its transitivity then follows. Further, I think this >> notion of specializeTop reflects the intuition we're trying to capture (see my >> very first comment above) >> >> #g >> -- >> >> >>> -Paolo >>> >>> >>> >>> On 1/12/12 6:32 PM, Graham Klyne wrote: >>>> Paolo, >>>> >>>> Summary: I think we are in agreement. I may need to re-check the text to make >>>> sure it doesn't still lead me to one of the misunderstandings from my earlier >>>> message. >>>> >>>> On 12/01/2012 10:06, Paolo Missier wrote: >>>>> Graham >>>>> >>>>> sorry for letting this slip. To recall, the context is that I am tasked with >>>>> fixing the alternateOf section of PROV-DM. >>>>> >>>>> I have a few comments to yours and Khalid's. Original text copied where >>>>> needed. >>>>> >>>>> My main comment is that I like your axiomatization of the two relations, >>>>> but it >>>>> seems to lead to properties that are not exactly what we want. But there is a >>>>> simple fix. >>>> :) >>>> >>>>> Specifically: >>>>> >>>>>> In other words, what I am suggesting is that: >>>>>> specializationOf(e1,e2) implies alternateOf(e1,e2) >>>>> that's fine, I have no problems with that. >>>>> >>>>>> *BUT*, this is not what the current text allows, since specializationOf is >>>>>> defined to be anti-symmetric, which means that it is also anti-reflexive: >>>>>> >>>>>> forall (a, b) : specializationOf(a,b) => not specializationOf(b,a) >>>>>> >>>>>> setting b = a we see that specializationOf(a,a) must be false, since its >>>>>> truth >>>>>> would give rise to a contradiction. >>>>> not really. Anti-symmetry is defined differently. I hate to quote >>>>> wikipedia, as >>>>> I don't have the provenance of the content handy :-), but it's just >>>>> convenient, so: >>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisymmetric_relation >>>>> >>>>> basically, an anti-symmetric relation can be reflexive so that's not a >>>>> problem. >>>> That would be good. From memory, I wasn't going so much by a definition of >>>> "antisymmetry" but because I though the text was suggesting something like the >>>> implication above. But if that's not intended, we can focus on making sure the >>>> text doesn't confuse. >>>> >>>>> More interestingly, about transitivity of alternateOf(): I believe we can >>>>> still >>>>> save your axiomatization: >>>>>> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : >>>>>> specializationOf(a,c) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,c) >>>>> just by insisting that the set of all entities forms a lattice. In fact, we >>>>> only >>>>> need an upper semi-lattice. >>>> Yes, I think that's about where I'd got to, but I wasn't sure how to axiomatize >>>> that cleanly. >>>> >>>>> This does not ensure that >>>>>> specializationOf(x, y) or specializationOf(y, x) >>>>> but it does ensure that for each x,y, there is some z such that >>>>> >>>>> specializationOf(x, z) and specializationOf(y, z). alternateOf(a,c) follows. >>>>> >>>>> Having a top element is quite natural in class hierarchies (see owl:Thing). >>>>> But >>>>> this should come as no surprise as all we are doing is re-invent class >>>>> hierarchies with a a top element. >>>>> >>>>> So in summary: >>>>> - I am fine with your axiomatization, plus the easy condition that entities >>>>> form >>>>> an upper semi-lattice. >>>>> - I think it belongs in PROV-SEM >>>>> - I am inclined to keep the properties of the two relations as they are. >>>>> >>>>> (and yes, more specific may be better than more concrete). >>>>> >>>>> are we in agreement? >>>> On the basis of what you say here, yes. >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>>> #g >>>> -- >>>> >>>>> On 1/6/12 4:44 PM, Graham Klyne wrote: >>>>>> Paolo, >>>>>> >>>>>> I've now looked at the text and am happy with the direction, but have some >>>>>> niggles with the details... >>>>>> >>>>>> First a nit: you say e1 and e2 provide a more *concrete* characterization >>>>>> than >>>>>> e1. I would say more *specific* rather than more *concrete*. >>>>>> >>>>>> For the rest, using Using Khalid's comments as a spingboard: >>>>>> >>>>>> On 05/01/2012 18:43, Khalid Belhajjame wrote: >>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The new Alternate and Specialization records seem to make sense to me. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> - Looking at the definitions of *specializationOf* and *alternateOf*, I for >>>>>>> few >>>>>>> seconds was wondering if it is a good idea to define a more general >>>>>>> relationship >>>>>>> that simply says that two entity records are representations of the same >>>>>>> entity, >>>>>>> without specifying if there is difference in abstraction or context. But, I >>>>>>> changed my mind as a result, and I now think that the general relationship >>>>>>> that >>>>>>> I was looking for is *alternateOf* itself. Indeed, such a relationship >>>>>>> seems to >>>>>>> be usable in both cases, i.e., different abstractions and/or different >>>>>>> contexts. >>>>>>> In other words, what I am suggesting is that: >>>>>>> specializationOf(e1,e2) implies alternateOf(e1,e2) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Does that make sense? >>>>>>> >>>>>> I think this depends on how the definitions are set up. >>>>>> >>>>>> I see specializationOf as a primnitive using which alternativeOf can be >>>>>> defined: >>>>>> >>>>>> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : >>>>>> specializationOf(a,c) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,c) >>>>>> >>>>>> My preference is for specializationOf to be reflexive; i.e. >>>>>> >>>>>> forall (a) : specializationOf(a, a) >>>>>> >>>>>> your result follows from this: >>>>>> >>>>>> given: >>>>>> specializationOf(e1,e2) [per premise] >>>>>> specializationOf(e2,e2) [per reflexivity] >>>>>> >>>>>> we set a=e1, b=e2, c=e2 to satisfy the RHS of alternativeOf definition, hence >>>>>> have alternativeOf(e1, e2) as you suggest. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *BUT*, this is not what the current text allows, since specializationOf is >>>>>> defined to be anti-symmetric, which means that it is also anti-reflexive: >>>>>> >>>>>> forall (a, b) : specializationOf(a,b) => not specializationOf(b,a) >>>>>> >>>>>> setting b = a we see that specializationOf(a,a) must be false, since its >>>>>> truth >>>>>> would give rise to a contradiction. >>>>>> >>>>>> Which in turn means that the above proof of your suggested inference does not >>>>>> hold. >>>>>> >>>>>> ... >>>>>> >>>>>> So my question is this: is there any particular reason to require >>>>>> anti-symmetry >>>>>> of specializationOf? >>>>>> >>>>>> (An alternative would be to modify the definition of alternativeOf, thus: >>>>>> >>>>>> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (c) : >>>>>> (specializationOf(a,c) or a = c) and >>>>>> (specializationOf(b,c) or b = c) >>>>>> >>>>>> Absent and particular reason to do otherwise, I'd rather go with the simpler >>>>>> definitions.) >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> - *alternateOf* is transitive. >>>>>> I think it should be, but let's see how this plays: >>>>>> >>>>>> alternativeOf(a, b) == exists (x) : >>>>>> specializationOf(a,x) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,x) >>>>>> >>>>>> alternativeOf(b, c) == exists (y) : >>>>>> specializationOf(b,y) and >>>>>> specializationOf(c,y) >>>>>> >>>>>> If we can show specializationOf(x, y) or specializationOf(y, x) then the >>>>>> result >>>>>> can be derived using transitivity of specializationOf and the definition of >>>>>> alternativeOf. >>>>>> >>>>>> We have: >>>>>> specializationOf(b,x) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,y) >>>>>> >>>>>> Intuitively a specializationOf relation holds between x and y as their is a >>>>>> single non-branching path from b to the "top" of the specialization tree. >>>>>> But I >>>>>> think we need more stated constraints to derive this. >>>>>> >>>>>> Right now, I'm not sure how best to capture this, and am thinking that simply >>>>>> asserting the required relation would be easiest; i.e. >>>>>> >>>>>> specializationOf(b,x) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,y) >>>>>> |= >>>>>> specializationOf(x,y) or specializationOf(y,x) >>>>>> >>>>>> (If specialization is anti-reflexive, we need to add "or x = y" to the above >>>>>> constraint.) >>>>>> >>>>>> Or maybe: >>>>>> >>>>>> specializationOf(b,x) and >>>>>> specializationOf(b,y) >>>>>> |= >>>>>> exists (z) : specializationOf(x,z) and specializationOf(y,z) >>>>>> >>>>>> An alternative would be to not care about this, in which case >>>>>> alternativeOf is >>>>>> not inferrable from specializationOf. Does this actually matter? >>>>>> >>>>>> #g >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 15/12/2011 15:25, Paolo Missier wrote: >>>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> in response to the comments about complementarity on the wiki and on the >>>>>>>> list, >>>>>>>> we have prepared a revised version of the section, >>>>>>>> where "complementarity" disappears in favour of "viewOf", and the >>>>>>>> definition >>>>>>>> is hopefully simplified and more in line with the >>>>>>>> expectations: >>>>>>>> http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/prov/raw-file/default/model/ProvenanceModel.html#record-complement-of >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> (the anchor name hasn't changed :-)) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> this is for feedback as per today's agenda >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> atb -Paolo >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>> > >
Received on Monday, 16 January 2012 08:44:53 UTC