consolidation of definitions
Alex Shkotin
Hi John Antill and All,
The current versions of pages https://ontologforum.com/index.php/Ontology(IT) and https://ontologforum.com/index.php/Knowledge_base represent John Antill's work well. Thanks to him for that. However, according to rule "(Roaod) one author one definition", a collection can only have one current definition from a single person. Therefore, consolidation is necessary.
I asked chatGPT to consolidate the definition. The results are in [1] and [2].
Accordingly, only the consolidated definition will be posted on the page.
John can confirm or correct the chatGPT consolidation.
Please keep in mind that I have not verified the AI's reasoning. Only the author can provide convincing verification.
So far, candidates to remain on the pages from John Antill: JA004, JA001N.
John, your turn 🤝
Alex
[1] !IT-ontology
I'll give you several definitions of the term "IT-ontology." Your task is to formulate a consolidated definition from which they all follow. However, if any of these definitions proves to be the most comprehensive, just take it.
JA001!
Ontology – formal semantic model enabling logical inference.
JA002!
An ontology in IT is a formal artifact with explicit semantics.
JA003!
A formally specified conceptualization expressed in a representation language with explicit semantics.
JA004!
A knowledge base whose artifacts constitute explicit axioms about domain entities and relations, expressed in a language with formal declarative semantics.
JA005!
IT ontology is a formally encoded artifact with defined semantics.
Among the given options, JA004 is already the most comprehensive: it includes the ideas of formal artifact, explicit semantics, conceptualization of a domain, and support for inference through axioms. The other definitions can be derived from it by simplification.
A slightly consolidated formulation that preserves all elements present in the set would be:
Consolidated definition
An IT ontology is a formally encoded knowledge artifact that specifies a conceptualization of a domain as explicit axioms about entities and relations, expressed in a representation language with formal declarative semantics enabling logical inference.
Why the other definitions follow
JA001: If an ontology is expressed with formal declarative semantics and axioms, it functions as a formal semantic model enabling logical inference.
JA002: The consolidated definition explicitly states it is a formal artifact with explicit semantics.
JA003: “Specifies a conceptualization of a domain expressed in a representation language with explicit semantics” follows directly.
JA004: Essentially identical, only slightly expanded into a general definition.
JA005: A shortened version of the same idea: formally encoded artifact with defined semantics.
If desired, I can also produce a minimal canonical definition (ISO-style, ~20 words) from this consolidated one.
[2] !KG
I'll give you several definitions of the term "KB." Your task is to formulate a consolidated definition from which they all follow. However, if any of these definitions proves to be the most comprehensive, just take it.
JA001!
A knowledge base is any structured or semi-structured repository of information designed for retrieval or inference.
JA001N!
A knowledge base is a structured or semi-structured repository of information intended for systematic retrieval or inferential use.
JA002!
A knowledge base is a structured set of knowledge artifacts that supports inference.
JA002N!
A structured set of knowledge artifacts in a representation supporting inferential use.
Among the four definitions, JA001N is the most comprehensive. It contains all the elements that appear in the others and can generate them as special cases.
Why JA001N is the most general
JA001N:
A knowledge base is a structured or semi-structured repository of information intended for systematic retrieval or inferential use.
It includes the following components:
Repository of information → this can be interpreted as a set of knowledge artifacts (JA002, JA002N).
Structured or semi-structured → covers both stricter representations (as in JA002N) and looser ones.
Intended for systematic retrieval or inferential use → includes:
retrieval (JA001)
inference (JA002, JA002N)
How the other definitions follow
JA001
Remove “systematic” and keep the same structure:
repository of information designed for retrieval or inference.JA002
Interpret repository of information as a set of knowledge artifacts, restrict the purpose to inference, and require structure.JA002N
Further specialize:repository → set
information → knowledge artifacts
structured/semi-structured → representation supporting inference
Result
The consolidated definition is therefore simply:
A knowledge base is a structured or semi-structured repository of information intended for systematic retrieval or inferential use.
All other definitions can be obtained from it by restriction of terms or scope.