Summary (I mean it this time): URIs : How to find the ontologies behind them

Ok, I think I am ready to summarize this thread.


It is a given that the URIs in an RDF/OWL document serve only as unique
identifiers.  One can not infer meaning from the content or stucture of the
URIs.  Similarly, the URI  need not be a valid web address, and if it is, it
need not point to anything having to do with the ontology.  Likewise,  the
web authority has no obligation to present, in any way, information about
the URIs that refer to it.

That being said, we agree that it would be a good idea for the web authority
refered to in the URI of a resource to provide information about that
resource, either at the address pointed to by the URI, or through another
mechanism.

However, even if an authority provides information about a resource, it can
not be seen as either authoritative or complete.  Information about the
resource garnered from other sources should be given equal weight.  The
provision of information by the web authority is, then, a technical
convenience, and nothing more.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Eli Israel
www.SemanticWorld.Org

Received on Thursday, 10 April 2003 07:50:10 UTC