Re: intersectionOf and subClassOf

From: "Geoff Chappell" <geoff@sover.net>
Subject: intersectionOf and subClassOf
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 09:10:09 -0500

> If A is a subClassOf B and C, should an owl (full) reasoner infer that A
> is a subClassOf the class that is the intersection of B and C? 

If A is a subClassOf B and A is a subClassOf C then it easily follows that
in OWL A is a subClassOf *any* intersection of B and D  (there can be more
than one intersection in OWL).

> Should it
> infer that A is a subClassOf the class that is the subClassOf B and C?
> etc? 

In OWL there are many classes that are subclasses of both B and C, at least
one of these (an intersection of B and C) has A as a subclass.  However,
owl:Nothing is a subClassOf both B and C and might not have A as a
subclass.

> -geoff chappell

Most of these sorts of questions can be answered by an appeal to logical
thinking.  OWL is actually quite simple underneath.  

peter

Received on Sunday, 30 March 2003 12:52:43 UTC