Contributions to the Axiomatic Foundation of Upper-Level Ontologies

In the present paper we make some contributions to the theory of upper level ontologies. Every domain-speci c ontology must use as a framework some upper-level ontology which describes the most general, domain-independent categories of reality. It turns out that the top-level ontology of the well-known standard modelling languages KIF (Knowledge Interchange Format), F-logic (Frame-Logic), and CyCL, is based on set-theoretical construction principles, so that the latter are essentially limited by the extensionalism of set theory. In the current paper we outline a new approach to upper-level ontologies which is based on recent results in formal ontology. We formulate some criteria which any upper-level ontology should satisfy although we shall not give a de nite de nition. Every such ontology should include the three ontological categories of sets, universals, individuals and a system R of formal relations. R contains, among others, membership, part-whole and inherence. The individuals are divided in substantoids, moments and situoids. We review a modelling language GOL (General Ontological Language) whose top-level ontology satis es these criteria. Finally, we compare our toplevel ontology to others, in particular to KIF, and to the ontologies of Russell-Norvig, J.Sowa, and to the standardization project SUO.