Parts, wholes, and part-whole relations: The prospects of mereotopology

摘要: Abstract We can see mereology as a theory of parthood and topology wholeness. How the two be combined to obtain unified parts wholes'? This paper examines three main ways answering this question. On first account, form independent (though mutually related) domains. The second account grants priority characterizes derivatively, by defining in terms wholeness (more specifically: connectedness). third approach reverses order, exploiting idea that (connectedness) explained along with other predicates or relations. analysis comparison these strategies is mostly formal (and within confines standard first-order theories), but their relevance spatio-temporal reasoning representation emphasized. Some more speculative directions for further research, such development framework based on single mereotopological primitive connected parthood, are also briefly considered.