Formal Ontology Training - Exercises

Exercises

Exercise #1:

Represent the statements below in SUO-KIF syntax. You may be able to do this just by looking at examples in the SUMO browser (type terms like "Object", "part", "Table" into the "KB term" field). You can also use the SUO-KIF manual as a reference.

• Mary is a woman
• All men are mortal
• Some men are plumbers
• Rachael is the editor of the newspaper

Please email me your exercises. Feel free to ask questions!

Exercise #2

Exercise #3:

Find appropriate "parent" terms in SUMO for the following: crater, nosh, fault line, biohazard, to peep, to thud

Represent the statements below in SUO-KIF syntax and terms from SUMO whenever possible

• if John likes Sue then Sue likes John
• if John likes someone, that person likes him
• If Someone likes someone else then he or she has the attribute of being likable
• Every likable person knows someone
• Every human has two feet
• Every human is likable in the afternoon
• John eats with a fork

• Every city has a policeman who has been beaten by every thief in the city
• In every city, each policeman has been beaten by some thief in the city
• In some cities there are policemen who have been beaten by every thief in the city

• documentation string. Maybe extract something short from Wikipedia
• termFormat expression
• subclass statement

• Create a new term and definition for "skipping" (as in "The child was skipping down the street.")
• Create a new term and definition for "bookshelf"
• Policeman
• Leeward (toward the wind)
• Being a lawyer in the US implies passing the bar exam in the state one is allowed to practice

Exercise #4:

Add a WordNet-SUMO mapping for kangaroo by editing the wordnet noun file. Restart Sigma and verify that it loads the new mapping. A prerequisite for this exercise is having Sigma running on your laptop. Follow the instructions in the Sigma User Guide to install Sigma

Exercise #5:

Convert to CNF:

((((![X]:a(X))|b(X)) | (?[X]:(?[Y]:p(X,f(Y))))) <=> q(g(a),X))

You'll create a file with the following inference test for E, which is presented simplified first here:

p(X) => q(X)
q(X)|r(X) => t(X)
p(a)

t(a) | r(a)        - conjecture

![X]:p(X) => q(X)
![X]:q(X)|r(X) => t(X)
p(a)

t(a) | r(a)        - conjecture

fof(ax1,axiom, ![X]:(p(X) => q(X))).
fof(ax2,axiom, ![X]:((q(X)|r(X)) => t(X))).
fof(ax3,axiom, p(a)).
fof(ax4,axiom, ~(t(a) | r(a) )).

/home/user/Programs/E/PROVER/eprover -auto --tptp3-format -l 2 ex.tptp

• The textbook for the course is Ontology: A Practical Guide .
• Much of the content of the first lecture, and some introduction of the material in subsequent lectures is covered in my on line lecture
• A laptop is required for the exercises.
• The Sigma browser, and SUMOjEdit editor must be installed on your laptop.
• Here are a few links to important parts of SUMO to help you get started
  • The family of CaseRole(s) are relations that specify the roles of participants in Processes. An interesting project would be to expand the set of CaseRoles. In particular, the relation patient is overused, and more specialized relations are needed.
  • a link to SpatialRelation, which is a starting point for any work in regards to Casati&Varzi's Parts and Places

• A Companion to Metaphysics is a great resource.
• Casati and Varzi's Parts and Places appears to be out of print, but it can be ordered used from several sellers.
• Loux's Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction is a good source for "big" issues.
• WordNet

This is just the list of hardcopies. I'd also suggest reading of some of my application papers that are available on the web.

Syllabus

contact: Adam Pease web