Microtheory
Expansion Vocabulary
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Update: 12/13/02
Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.
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Some Types Of Microtheories
#$Microtheory contexts
A specialization of #$AbstractInformationalThing.
Each instance of #$Microtheory is
an abstract informational thing that represents a context in
Cyc. Each microtheory (or 'mt') serves to group a set of
assertions together that share some common assumptions; the
assertions in an mt constitute the content of that mt. Note
that each assertion in the Cyc knowledge base must be
explicitly stated to be true in at least one microtheory.
Assertions stated to be true in one mt will also be true (by
inference) in more specialized mts that depend on the
content of that mt. For example, if something is true in the
#$HumanSocialLifeMt (q.v.), then it should by default be
true in the more specialized #$UnitedStatesSocialLifeMt
(q.v.). Specialized microtheories are related to the more
general microtheories on which they depend by the predicate
#$genlMt
(q.v.). Note that every query is made in some mt, and the
answer one gets to a query depends on the mt in which it is
asked, since the only assertions which can be used to answer
a query in an mt are those explicitly stated to be true in
that mt, or in some more general mt. See also the predicate
#$ist, which is
used to relate an assertion to the microtheories in which it
is true.
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direct instance of:
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of:
#$AbstractInformationalThing
direct generalization of: #$SpindleMicrotheory #$BroadMicrotheory
#$LexicalMicrotheory #$FormalCOC
#$EnglishLexicalMicrotheory #$GovernmentCOC #$LegalCode
#$SupposedToBeMicrotheory
#$FictionalContext
#$Obligation
#$CodeOfConduct #$TemplateParsingMicrotheory
#$Language-SpecificMicrotheory #$CollectorMicrotheory #$ProblemSolvingCntxt
#$DeclarativeContext #$PlanningDomainMicrotheory #$HypotheticalContext
#$PropositionalInformationThing
#$GeneralMicrotheory
#$DataMicrotheory #$TheoryMicrotheory
#$VocabularyMicrotheory
#$MicrotheoryType types
of microtheory
A collection of collections. Each instance of #$MicrotheoryType
is a specialization of #$Microtheory.
Instances of #$MicrotheoryType
include the collections #$HypotheticalContext
and #$GeneralMicrotheory.
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direct instance of: #$SecondOrderCollection
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of: #$FirstOrderCollection
#$GeneralMicrotheory general
Cyc microtheories
A specialization of #$DeclarativeContext. Instances
of #$GeneralMicrotheory
contain general axioms useful for multiple purposes. This
excludes microtheories that deal with specific situations,
such as instances of #$ProblemSolvingCntxt,
microtheories that represent the information content of one
specific #$InformationBearingObject
such as the US Declaration of Independence, and those that
are purely lexical microtheories. Instances of this
collection include #$HumanSocialLifeMt, #$BuyingMt, and
#$NaiveAnimalsMt. Non-instances include #$GeneralLexiconMt
(purely lexical) and #$PeopleDataMt (no general axioms).
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of: #$DeclarativeContext
#$BroadMicrotheory broad microtheory
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The collection of those microtheories that contain
so many assertions that they are not useful for `relevance'
focusing during inference. (A #$BroadMicrotheory
is not used internally in Cyc's indexing scheme during
inference.) Examples: #$BaseKB and #$EnglishMt.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$ProblemSolvingCntxt psc
(mt) (AIT)
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The collection of microtheories that are used in
applications as a means to reason about particular
situations. Every original query takes place in some #$ProblemSolvingCntxt
(as opposed to a #$GeneralMicrotheory)
which has access --- via the #$genlMt relation ---
to other relevant microtheories, all the way up to the most
general one, the #$BaseKB. A #$ProblemSolvingCntxt
is usually created temporarily for the problem at hand, and
is discarded after the problem is dealt with (unlike a #$GeneralMicrotheory,
which is created for lasting use).
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$FictionalOrMythologicalContext counterfactual contexts
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A specialization of #$Microtheory.
Each instance MT of #$FictionalOrMythologicalContext
is a microtheory for which the following property holds:
there is at least one assertion ASSERT which holds in MT (so
that (#$ist MT
ASSERT) is true), but which is widely believed to be false.
Although microtheories with this property would appear to
have limited utility, they can be useful in reasoning about
the content of fictional works or the content of certain
belief systems. An important specialization of #$FictionalOrMythologicalContext
is #$FictionalContext (q.v.).
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
direct generalization of:
#$FictionalContext
#$HypotheticalContext hypothetical
Cyc contexts
A #$MicrotheoryType.
Each instance of #$HypotheticalContext
consist of assertions that are posited strictly for the
purpose of exploring their consequences, without alleging
their actual truth. A hypothetical context can be used to
analyze hypothetical outcomes of actions or to examine the
hypothetical consequences of assuming some theory to be
true. Also, various alternative choices might be asserted,
each in its own hypothetical context, so their ramifications
can be generated and compared.
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direct instance of:
#$ObjectType #$MicrotheoryType
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$FictionalContext fictional contexts
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The collection of #$FictionalOrMythologicalContexts
which are (1) created intentionally, not by error or chance
or gradual evolution and accretion in a culture, and (2)
typically are the information content of some #$InformationBearingThing,
and (3) are not expected (by their creator) to be believed
as factual, nor do their creators believe them to be
factual. In addition to asserting fictional propositions
about existing things, a #$FictionalContext
may include terms for nonexistent things. Examples:
#$MiddleEarthMt, #$AdventuresOfHuckleberryFinn.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$SupposedToBeMicrotheory supposed
to be microtheory
A specialization of #$Microtheory.
Each instance of #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory
is a microtheory that describes how things are supposed to
be according to some source. Instances of this collection
can be used to represent things like the policies of a
company, the laws of a country, the tenets of a religion,
the rules of proper conduct for employees of a particular
corporation, etc. The assertions in a #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory
may or may not describe the world as it actually is.
Examples instances include #$BasicWesternLegalConceptsMt,
#$SportsRulesOf-BoxingSportsEvent, #$CycStaffCalendar, and #$OfficeCodeOfConductMt.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
direct generalization of: #$Proposal #$Agreement #$Obligation
#$TextMicrotheory text microtheory
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The collection of Microtheories each of which
contains assertions that convey the information content of a
particular text. The propositional content of a text is a #$PropositionalInformationThing,
and it forms a #$TextMicrotheory.
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direct instance of:
#$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$PropositionalInformationThing
#$PerspectiveMicrotheory perspective microtheory
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The collection of Microtheories that each represent
the propositional beliefs of a particular perspective. A #$PerspectiveMicrotheory
is the view of facts generally taken by someone or something
in a particular role or type of role. The propositions in a
#$PerspectiveMicrotheory
are true from the perspective of the thing in that role.
Examples include: #$AudiencePerspectiveMt,
#$WorkerPerspectiveMt, #$RecipientOfServicePerspectiveMt,
#$ProviderOfServicePerspectiveMt, #$PassengerPerspectiveMt,
#$DriverPerspectiveMt, etc.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$NeedMicrotheory needs
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The collection of Microtheories each containing
those propositions that describe what some #$Agent needs to be
true. This may be distinct from what the #$Agent wants to be
true, and depends on some additional assessment of the
#$Agent's need by someone else. It may include physical,
financial or formal legal `needs' of the #$Agent.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
direct generalization of:
#$Obligation
#$Expectation expectations
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The collection of microtheories whose propositions
represent what some #$Agent (or #$Group of #$Agents) believes will
be true at some future time.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$Obligation obligations
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
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A collection of microtheories; a subcollection of
#$SupposedToBeMicrotheory.
Each instance of the collection #$Obligation is a
microtheory which contains assertions describing what some
agent (the #$obligatedAgent) is obliged to do, or make true,
for one or more other agents, possibly including society in
general. An obligation is the most general case of some
agent owing something to another. Obligations may be
undertaken in conjunction with various kinds of #$Agreements.
Unlike an agreement, however, an obligation need not have a
second known party (though some do). An obligation can exist
and be understood without identifying another particular
agent as the `holder' of the obligation -- and that may be
true, even if the beneficiary (#$obligationOwedTo) can be
identified. For example, assuming that parents have an
obligation to care for their children, it is not clear with
whom a parent has `agreed' to take care of his or her child.
Some common ways to incur an obligation are through social
transactions (e.g., family duties, friendship, favors) or
through financial transactions (e.g., a
#$PaymentObligation). In addition, obligations may be
imposed on those who are subject to one or more instances of
#$CodeOfConduct, e.g., #$LegalCode-ModernUnitedStates,
#$SportsRulesOf-BoxingSportsEvent, #$OfficeCodeOfConductMt.
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direct instance of:
#$TemporalStuffType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$SupposedToBeMicrotheory #$IntangibleExistingThing
direct generalization of:
#$WorkAgreement
#$CodeOfConduct
#$Estimate estimations
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
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The collection of microtheories containing
propositions that represent beliefs by some #$Agent which are the
result of inexact judgmental reasoning. For example, IBM's
estimate on January 1, 1992, of fourth quarter earnings for
1991. This concept encompasses the common meaning of
`estimate' and also `guess'. This contrasts with beliefs
which are derived primarily from rigorous or reliable
reasoning, direct observation, or consultation of
authoritative sources. This also contrasts with intentional
lies and works of fiction, which are not #$Estimates.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Microtheory
#$Story stories
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The collection of microtheories each of which
contains the assertional content of a story -- a #$Narrative
describing a particular sequence of events which occur to
one or more characters in the story. The story is at least
partially fictional as opposed to true stories .
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direct instance of:
#$ObjectType
direct specialization of:
#$Narrative
#$BeliefSystemMicrotheory belief
system microtheory
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
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The collection of microtheories each of which
contains the assertional content of the beliefs of some
religion, creed, cult, social group, school of thought,
political party, or other group that has shared beliefs or
doctrines. Example: #$ChristianityMt.
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direct instance of:
#$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of:
#$SupposedToBeMicrotheory
Vocabulary For Stating Relationships Between Microtheories
#$genlMt genl mt
This predicate relates a more specific microtheory
to a more general one, where the former constitutes a
specialization with respect to the latter. More precisely:
(#$genlMt
SPEC-MT GENL-MT) means that any assertion that is true in
GENL-MT is also true in SPEC-MT. Thus a query posed in
SPEC-MT has access to all of the assertions asserted in
GENL-MT. (The consequences of this are far-reaching since #$genlMt is
transitive.) One particular microtheory, the #$BaseKB, is in the
unique position of being a generalization (via #$genlMt) of every
microtheory. (Note that, for technical reasons, all #$genlMt assertions
should be made in the #$BaseKB.)
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direct instance of: #$OpenCycDefinitionalPredicate
#$RuleMacroPredicate
#$ReflexiveBinaryPredicate #$TransitiveBinaryPredicate
#$MicrotheoryPredicate #$DefaultMonotonicPredicate
direct specialization of: #$generalizations
#$contradictoryMt contradictory mt
(#$contradictoryMt
MT-1 MT-2) means that at least some of the assertions of
MT-1 (content assertions and/or domain assumptions) are
inconsistent with assertions of MT-2, and no lifting can
occur between MT-1 and MT-2 (i.e. assertions made in one
microtheory should not be made visible to the other
microtheory). For cases where it is specifically domain
assumptions that are in conflict, the more specialized
predicate #$negationMt
should be used.
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direct instance of: #$SymmetricBinaryPredicate
#$IrreflexiveBinaryPredicate #$MicrotheoryPredicate
#$negationMt negation mt
(#$negationMt
MT-1 MT-2) means that the domain assumptions of the #$Microtheory
MT-1 are inconsistent with those of the #$Microtheory
MT-2, and no lifting can occur between MT-1 and MT-2 (i.e.
assertions made in one microtheory should not be made
visible to the other microtheory). For cases where two
microtheories differ not in domain assumptions but purely in
content (assertions made within those microtheories), see
the less specialized #$contradictoryMt.
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direct instance of: #$SymmetricBinaryPredicate
#$IrreflexiveBinaryPredicate #$MicrotheoryPredicate
direct specialization of:
#$contradictoryMt
Vocabulary For Stating Relationships Between Microtheories
And Propositions
#$ist fact
(microtheory-designating predicate) (microtheory
predicate) (intangible object describing predicate)
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
This predicate relates a microtheory to any
sentence that is true in it. (#$ist MT SENT) means
that the CycL sentence SENT (or, if you prefer, the
proposition SENT expresses) is true in the microtheory MT.
Note that SENT need not actually be _asserted_ in MT; MT
might for example inherit SENT from a more general
microtheory. (Cf. #$ist-Asserted.)
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direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryDesignatingPredicate
#$BinaryPredicate #$MicrotheoryPredicate
#$inconsistentWithMt inconsistent
with mt
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(#$inconsistentWithMt
SENTENCE MT) means that adding the #$ELSentence-Assertible
SENTENCE to the assertions already in the #$Microtheory MT
would generate a contradiction. For asserting that a given
#$ELSentence-Assertible
does not contradict what is known tout court, see #$consistent.
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direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryDesignatingPredicate
#$MicrotheoryPredicate #$BinaryPredicate
Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.