Model-theoretic Approaches to Semantic Integration (Extended Abstract)

no abstrac

Heterogeneous Theories and the Heterogeneous Tool Set

Heterogeneous multi-logic theories arise in different contexts: they are needed for the specification of large software systems, as well as for mediating between different ontologies. This is because large theories typically involve different aspects that are best specified in different logics (like equational logics, description logics, first-order logics, higher-order logics, modal logics), but also because different formalisms are in practical use (like RDF, OWL, EML). Using heterogeneous theories, different formalims being developed at different sites can be related, i.e. there is a formal interoperability among languages and tools. In many cases, specialized languages and tools have their strengths in particular aspects. Using heterogeneous theories, these strengths can be combined with comparably small effort. By contrast, a true combination of all the involved logics into a single logic would be too complex (or even inconsistent) in many cases. We propose to use emph{institutions} as a formalization of the notion of logical system. Institutions can be related by so-called institution morphsims and comorphisms. Any graph of institutions and (co)morphisms can be flattened to a so-called emph{Grothendieck institution}, which is kind of disjoint union of all the logics, enriched with connections via the (co)morphisms. This semantic basis for heterogeneous theories is complemented by the heterogeneous tool set, which provides tool support. Based on an object-oriented interface for institutions (using type classes in Haskell), it implements the Grothendieck institution and provides a heterogeneous parser, static analysis and proof support for heterogeneous theories. This is based on parsers, static analysers and proof support for the individual institutions, and on a heterogeneous proof calculus for theories in the Grothendieck institution. See also the Hets web page: http://www.tzi.de/cofi/het

Basic Semantic Integration

The use of highly abstract mathematical frameworks is essential for building the sort of theoretical foundation for semantic integration needed to bring it to the level of a genuine engineering discipline. At the same time, much of the work that has been done by means of these frameworks assumes a certain amount of background knowledge in mathematics that a lot of people working in ontology, even at a fairly high theoretical level, lack. The major purpose of this short paper is provide a (comparatively) simple model of semantic integration that remains within the friendlier confines of first-order languages and their usual classical semantics and logic

Semantic Integration in the Information Flow Framework

The Information Flow Framework (IFF) is a descriptive category metatheory currently under development, which is being offered as the structural aspect of the Standard Upper Ontology (SUO). The architecture of the IFF is composed of metalevels, namespaces and meta-ontologies, whose core forms a metastack representing the set-theoretic notions of the "small", the "large", the "very large" and the "generic". The main application of the IFF is institutional: the notion of institutions and their morphisms are being axiomatized in the upper metalevels of the IFF, and the lower metalevel of the IFF has axiomatized various institutions (information flow, equational logic, many sorted first order logic, the common logic standard) in which semantic integration has a natural expression

Ten Years of Peacebuilding Work in Conflict Regions: Reflections of Foundations for Peace Network Members

This short publication, Ten years of Peacebuilding Work in Conflict Regions: Reflections of Foundations for Peace Network Members, is a sister publication to our policy publication Laying the Foundations for Peace: a Policy Contribution 2016, and both will be launched during our conference in the European Foundation Centre (EFC) Philanthropy House, Brussels, in November 2016, to mark our 10th anniversary. A snapshot of the combined experiences and reflections of the members of the FFP (Foundations for Peace) Network is presented in this publication. The member foundations are indigenous to, and proactively working in, societies that have been deeply impacted by violent conflict and communal division. All are deeply committed to the empowerment of local communities to develop sustainable peacebuilding and conflict resolution solutions to local conflict

Generating Levels That Teach Mechanics

The automatic generation of game tutorials is a challenging AI problem. While it is possible to generate annotations and instructions that explain to the player how the game is played, this paper focuses on generating a gameplay experience that introduces the player to a game mechanic. It evolves small levels for the Mario AI Framework that can only be beaten by an agent that knows how to perform specific actions in the game. It uses variations of a perfect A* agent that are limited in various ways, such as not being able to jump high or see enemies, to test how failing to do certain actions can stop the player from beating the level.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, PCG Workshop at FDG 2018, 9th International Workshop on Procedural Content Generation (PCG2018