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Re: [ontolog-forum] Data Models v. Ontologies (again)

To: "[ontolog-forum]" <ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Ed Barkmeyer <edbark@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 11:09:13 -0400
Message-id: <4832E999.8040802@xxxxxxxx>

Oops!  I meant to add that Sean's assessment matches mine, I think:    (01)

> A data model assumes a set of entities, and the choice of which entity
> to use is implicit, both as natural language text in the data model, and
> in the input processes of the system embodying the data model. ...
> 
> An ontology is a formal system of entities (typically a lattice), where
> the primary concern of the ontology modeller is to expose the aspects
> (characteristics, etc) of the entity which characterise it. ...    (02)

That is exactly the distinction I make in Rule 2.    (03)

> That being said, current description techniques (at least those powerful
> enough to formally describe an ontology) do not distinguish between
> characteristics belonging to a data model and those belonging to an
> ontology (as outlined above). This leads to the position that any system
> powerful enough to formally describe an ontology is the subject of
> ontology research, whether it is used to describe an ontology or a data
> model (2).    (04)

And this is a more erudite/polite formulation of my Rule 1 -- that the 
ideas are now (accidentally, ignorantly, or deliberately) conflated.    (05)

-Ed    (06)

-- 
Edward J. Barkmeyer                        Email: edbark@xxxxxxxx
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263                Tel: +1 301-975-3528
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263                FAX: +1 301-975-4694    (07)

"The opinions expressed above do not reflect consensus of NIST,
  and have not been reviewed by any Government authority."    (08)

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