Social Meaning Discussion - Agenda

Prework

Read Section 4. Meaning of RDF in RDF Concepts Last Call WD.

Read Bijan Parsia's Last Call comment.

Non-objective

Make changes to RDF Concepts section 4. (This is the perogative of the Working Group)

Desired Outcome

Make a consensus comment on RDF Concepts section 4, being:

Either (A)

Section 4 should be struck.

Or (B):

We suggest the following alternative text to capture some of the intent of section 4.

Or (C):

We endorse section 4, but suggest editorial work to clarify the following: ...

Initial Draft of alternative text

This is intended to be minimalistic, in an effort to maximise the support for it, the intent is that where discussion in the meeting shows support for stronger text, then the text would be strengthened. In particular, this text is so weak, that suggesting it is intended to be nearly equivalent to suggesting striking section 4.

Pragmatics of RDF (informative)

RDF/XML documents are intended to be used for communication.

The communication is informed by the formal semantics of RDF and a shared understanding of the effective meaning of URIrefs and literals in such a document.

The mechanisms by which the participants in the communication may share such an understanding are outside the scope of this recommendation.

Suboptimal outcome

A majority position, and a minority position, i.e. no consensus.

Highly suboptimal outcome

Not even that.

Structure

1. Straw Poll on outcome resolution
2. More detailed discussion on issuettes (below)
3. Second straw poll
4. If straw poll shows option (B)
   • Select subgroup
   • Subgroup (five or six people) break out and propose text
   • On Friday a final vote
5. else final vote.

Issuettes

Authoritative Definition of URIs

Nature of defining information is separate issuette.

Options:

• Section 4.3 needs no substantive change
• Section 4.3 needs greater clarity as to how the meaning of URIs is fixed.
• The text should not presuppose authorative definition of URIs

Discussion:

RDF Concepts 4.3 These social conventions are rooted in the URI specification [URI] and registration procedures [URI-REG].

Parsia: *how one fixes the meaning of the asserted graph* [...] to a *specific* grounded interepretation.
[...] are these social conventions true in all societies? Are you reporting, or specifying?
[...] How does this fit in with my ability to use any URI in my ontology, making any defining assertions I like about it?

Defining Information

The RDF last call documents do not indicate a method for indicating the formal definition of a URIref; however, section 4.2 does use the idea of 'defining information' for the social meaning.

Options

• The concept of 'defining information' is sufficiently clear.
• Section 4 needs to indicate how defining information is specified for a URIref.
• The concept of 'defining information' should be struck.

Discussion:

RDF Concepts 4.2 An RDF graph may contain "defining information" that is opaque to logical reasoners. This information may be used by human interpreters of RDF information, or programmers writing software to perform specialized forms of deduction in the Semantic Web.

Parsia: Scare quotes are used to indicate that the enclose words are not being used in their normal sense. But there's no vague, much less precise, definition of "defining information". And I'm a logical reasoner, will this information be opaque to me? (Well, if in German, yes, but *all* human reasoners?)
[...] So it's formal meaning isn't fixed IN ANY WAY by the "authority"? And the social meaning?

Asserting RDF

Options:

• Editorial changes may be needed to clarify some of the language to do with asserting RDF
• The concept of asserted RDF and non-asserted RDF requires the specification of some formal mechanism
• The concept of asserted and non-asserted RDF should be struck.

Todo

Mechanical Inference and Social Meaning

Slipperiness of Intended Meaning

Third party publication

Legally significant?

Either Vacuous or Underthought

Options

• Strike section 4.
• Think more
• Section 4 is more-or-less adequate