Carnap, Goguen, and the Hyperontologies: Logical Pluralism and Heterogeneous Structuring in Ontology Design

摘要: This paper addresses questions of universality related to ontological engineering, namely aims at substantiating (negative) answers the following three basic questions: (i) Is there a ‘universal ontology’?, (ii) formal ontology language’?, and (iii) universally applicable ‘mode reasoning’ for ontologies? To support our in principled way, we present general framework design ontologies resting on two main principles: firstly, endorse Rudolf Carnap’s principle logical tolerance by giving central stage concept heterogeneity, i.e. use plurality languages within one design. Secondly, structure combine heterogeneous semantically well-founded base work abstract model theory form institutional semantics, as forcefully put forward Joseph Goguen Rod Burstall. In particular, employ structuring mechanisms algebraic specification language HetCasl defining heterogeneous, distributed, highly modular structured ontologies, called hyperontologies. Moreover, distinguish, structural semantic level, several different kinds combining aligning integration, connection, refinement. We show how notion refinement can be used provide both sub-ontology well equivalence finally sketch modes reasoning over are these aspects.