From Ontology to Structured Applied Epistemology

We have proposed the development of highly-structured scientific research reports (e.g., [1]) as well as highly-structured descriptions of historical events on which historical analyses can be based [3]. Because structured revisions to knowledge are integral to scientific research and analytical histories, such reports and descriptions should support the ability to describe, justify, and ultimately to implement changes to knowledge models. Thus, we propose that representations of such materials need structures for both semantics and applied epistemology. We base the semantics of rich knowledge models on the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). BFO is a rigorous upper ontology [4]. While it is widely used to organize relationships among biological entities, some considerations for how it might be applied beyond ontologies to the description of full research reports and richly structured histories are not yet specified. For instance, causal relationships have not been widely explored. Similarly, while BFO distinguishes between Universals and Particulars (instances) there has been little investigation into how extended descriptions of instances might be modeled. We have suggested that BFO might be extended to incorporate features like those in objectoriented programming languages [2]. A programming-language implementation could show transitions in the network of Dependent Continuants and Processes associated with an Independent Continuant. In addition, BFO elements could be used to construct high-level structures such as Scenarios that would help to describe complex interactions of Independent Continuants.