Can RDF* introduce paradoxes? And what if?

• From: thomas lörtsch <tl@rat.io>
• Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:38:17 +0100
• To: public-rdf-star@w3.org
• Message-Id: <4D3214F4-F4B5-4882-A43E-9B8921B14742@rat.io>

[This question definitely shows a troublesome lack of understanding and research. Feel free to ignore.]

One of the dangers of reification is that it introduces the possibility of paradoxes. The proposed literal-like semantics of RDF* doesn’t seem to give any protection from that. IIUC the following constitutes a paradox:

    << <> a :lie >>  a :lie .

Or is it only a contradiction? Maybe the monotonic nature of RDF and its lack of all-quantification does make paradoxes impossible? Or at least not harmful? Maybe it would be sufficient to disallow the self-referential <> ?

Is there anything that should be done? That can be done? What are the dangers?


Thanks,
Thomas

Received on Monday, 25 January 2021 15:38:37 UTC