About Material and

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About Material and Immaterial Creation
Martin Doerr
Institute of Computer Science Foundation for
Research and Technology Hellas Heraklion, Crete
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Material and Immaterial CreationProblem statement

• Creation, a key concept of culture and science -
  a clear concept?
• Intuitively An intentional activity (process)
  which brings into existence new things.
• A thing not seen before.
• Acquires a new identity through this process.
• Bears essential traits from this process (and
  the creator?)
• Questions
• New in which sense?
• Senses Different from what it is made of
  different from peers physically different
  quantitatively different functionally different.
• Can the kind of intention be separated from the
  sense of new? Is absolute identity adequate to
  describe the relevant senses of new ?
• how relates absolute identity to our creation
  concepts?

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Material and Immaterial CreationProblem statement

• General goal
• An ontology for representing factual knowledge
  expressed individually in cultural, historical or
  scientific documents, so that this knowledge can
  be integrated in a monotonic way, as long as
  information is not contradictory for the expert.
• not excluding the necessity of guidelines for
  good documentation practice
• Problem
• The same processes and constellations of matter
  may be described in ways so that formal reasoning
  may come to contradictory inferences, such as the
  same things existing and not existing, or
  existing multiply etc.
• Approach Ontology engineering from evidence of
  practice. Adequacy to the conceptualizations of
  domain experts.

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Material and Immaterial CreationThe CIDOC CRM
(ISO21127)

• The CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (ISO/FDIS
  21127)
• Developed since 1996 by CIDOC / ISO TC46, ISO
  21127 by 2006, result of long-term
  interdisciplinary work and agreement.
• Is a core ontology describing the underlying
  semantics of data schemata and structures from
  all museum disciplines and archives, aiming to
  integrate cultural heritage information
• In essence, it is a generic model of recording
  of what has happened in human (mesoscopic)
  scale.
• It can generate huge, meaningful networks of
  knowledge by a simple abstraction history as
  meetings of people, things and information.

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Material and Immaterial CreationThe CIDOC CRM
Encoding

• The CIDOC CRM is a formal ontology (defined in
  TELOS)
• But CRM instances can be encoded in many forms
  RDBMS, ooDBMS, RDF(S), OWL
• Uses Multiple isa to achieve uniqueness of
  properties in the schema.
• Uses multiple instantiation - to be able to
  combine not always valid combinations (e.g.
  destruction activity).
• Uses Multiple isA for properties to capture
  different abstraction of relationships.
• Methodological aspects wrt core
• Classes are introduced as anchors of properties
  ( and if structurally relevant). Other classes
  are seen as terminology (E55 Type).
• Properties are introduced by evidence from
  frequently used data structures
• Properties are declared with quantifiers
  0,1,many at domain and range.
• So far no FOL expressions.

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Material and Immaterial CreationThe CIDOC CRM
Thing
immaterial
material
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Material and Immaterial CreationImmaterial
things in the CIDOC CRM

• E28 Conceptual Object
• This class comprises non-material products of
  our minds and information produced by humans with
  or without using technical devices that have
  become objects of a discourse about their
  identity, circumstances of creation and
  historical implications.
• Characteristically, instances of this class
  are created, invented or thought by someone, and
  then may be documented or communicated between
  persons.
• Instances of E28 Conceptual Object have the
  ability to exist on more than one particular
  carrier at the same time, such as papers,
  electronic signals, marks, audio media,
  paintings, photos, human memories, etc.
• They cannot be destroyed as long as they
  exist on at least one carrier or in memory.
• Their existence ends when the last carrier is
  lost. A greater distinction can be made between
  products having a clear identity, such as a
  specific text, or photographs, and the ideas and
  concepts shared and traded by groups of people.
• Variant of the definition in ISO21127

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Material and Immaterial CreationImmaterial
things in the CIDOC CRM

• Conceptual Objects do not depend in their
  form/substance on a particular carrier (like
  fish and water)
• They are immaterial because they can reside
  identically at the same time on more than one
  carrier. They cannot do anything without a
  physical carrier.
• They are particulars of a discourse. Some may be
  seen as equivalence classes of their carriers (
  are they hidden universals ? ). Some are
  universals (!!).
• a text versus a text plus its layout part-of or
  IsA?
• IPRs do not pertain to the carriers.
• Idea Conceptual Objects participate in meetings
  via their carriers. They are only transferred via
  meetings of things and/or people ( a physical
  constraint on the intellectual world).

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Information exchange as meetings
t
Victory!!!
coherence volume of second announcement
coherence volume of first announcement
2nd Athenian
Victory!!!
1st Athenian
other Soldiers
runner
coherence volume of the battle of Marathon
S
Marathon
Athens
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Material and Immaterial CreationThe CIDOC CRM
only a partial formalization
P16 used specific object (was used for)
1,n
0,n
P14 carried out by (performed)
0,n
0,n
E7 Activity
E39 Actor
E70 Thing
P14.1 in the role of
E55 Type
E18 Physical Thing
1,n
E11 Modification
P31 has modified (was modified by)
0,n
P108 has produced (was produced by)
E24 Physical Man-Made Thing
E12 Production
1,n
1,1
P128 carries (is carried by)
memorized in?
P94 has created (was created by)
E65 Creation
E28 Conceptual Object
1,n
1,1
E73 Information Object
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Material and Immaterial Creation The FRBR-CRM
Harmonization Project

• Formation in 2003 of the International Working
  Group on FRBR/CIDOC CRM Harmonisation
• A collaboration of CIDOC CRM-SIG and the IFLA
  FRBR Review Group.
• To express the IFLA FRBR model as FRBROO with
  the concepts, ontological methodology and
  notation conventions provided by the CIDOC CRM.
• To facilitate the integration, mediation and
  interchange of bibliographic and museum
  information.
• A comprehensive text with all related CRM
  definitions and complete mappings FRBRER to
  FRBROO, OWL/RDF files, VISIO graphics.
• Work continues with FRAD (Functional
  Requirements for Authority Data)

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Material and Immaterial CreationFRBR

• The Functional Requirements for Bibliographic
  Records (FRBR)
• developed 1992-1997 by IFLA, now being
  complemented by the Functional Requirements for
  Authority Files (FRAR)
• A core ER model to integrate library objects by
  content relation
• Intended to formulate a new library practice
• Innovations
• Definition of 4 stages/ abstraction levels of
  intellectual products Work, Expression,
  Manifestation, Item.
• Clusters publications and items around the
  notion of derivation and common conceptual origin
  across stages / abstraction levels.
• Lacks any explicit notion of the processes
  behind. Partially ambiguous definitions
  (overgeneralization).

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Material and Immaterial CreationFRBR
Abstraction Levels
has part
has a complement has a successor has a
summary has a supplement has a transformation has
adaptation has an imitation
a distinct intellectual or artistic
creation there is no single material object one
can point to as the work...
Work
is realized through (is a realization of)
has part
the intellectual or artistic realization of a
work in the form of alpha-numeric, musical, or
choreographic notation, sound, image, object,
movement, etc
has a complement has a successor has a
summary has a supplement has a transformation has
adaptation has an imitation
Expression
is embodied in (is the embodiment of )
the physical embodiment of an expression of a
workall the physical objects that bear the same
characteristics may be only a single physical
exemplar
has part
Manifestation
is exemplified by (exemplifies )
has part
Item
a single exemplar of a manifestation...
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Material and Immaterial Creation FRBROO
clarification of key concepts
E28 Conceptual Object
The substance of Work is concepts (the
idea). Only through the comprehension of the
concepts derivation is possible. Complex Work
Continuation, possibly by others.
F1Work
F46 Individual Work
F48 Container Work
F21 Complex Work
F43 Publication Work
E73 Information Object
The substance of Expression is signs (the text).
An Expression can be complete. The kinds of
signs/features that identify an Expression depend
on the function.
F2 Expression
F23 Expression Fragment
F20 Self-contained Expression
F41 Publication Expression
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Material and Immaterial Creation FRBROO The
first externalization process
E65 Creation
E12 Production
E28 Conceptual Object
F31 Expression Creation
F40 Carrier Production Event
F3 Manifestation Production Type
R9 comprises carriers of
R41 produced (was produced by)
R49 created a realization of
R22 created
E24 Physical Man-Made Thing
F1 Work
E84 Information Carrier
F2 Expression
R45 created
R10 belongs to type
R56 is realized in
F20 Self Contained Expression
F23 Expression Fragment
F4 Manifestation Singleton
F46 Individual Work
F21 Complex Work
F5 Item
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Material and Immaterial Creation FRBROO
Conception and Externalization
F1 Work
R21 initiated
P4 has time-span
F30 Work Conception
E52 Time
P14 carried out by
P7
E39 Actor
P4
P14 carried out by
E65 Expression Creation
E53 Place
P7 took place at
R49 created a realisation of
R22 created
R45 created
F2 Expression
F4 Manifestation Singleton
Work elaboration
Work conception
Expression creation
time
produces a work
produces an idea
Produces (simultaneously) an Expression and a
Manifestation-Singleton
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Material and Immaterial CreationWhen is a new
thing produced? - Immaterials

• Identity and historical reasoning
• This idea was created by/in, this physical law
  was detected by/in
• How did they learn about it? Who told them?
  (China 1421)
• Thesis Conceptual Objects exist for our
  discourse from the first externalization on,
  from the point on they can be recognized.
• Consequently At least one physical carrier.
• Becomes the physical carrier a new object by
  carrying a new conceptual object? Or is it only
  modified? There IS something physically new on
  it.
• Oral Tradition At least 2 carriers needed?
  Becomes a new human carrier modified?
• Is witnessing something a collective conceptual
  creation?

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Material and Immaterial CreationWhen is a new
thing produced? - Immaterials

• Modification and Derivation
• An immaterial object is not modified like a
  material one The precursor may continue to exist
  on another carrier gt two distinct objects at the
  same time. Better talk only about derivation?
• Which changes make it new?
• Any reproducible change (DNA tracing!)
• Sufficient change for a specific function
  words, type face, lay-out?
• Relative notion of identity? Dependency coarser
  level changes imply finer level changes.
• New as a question of quantity? (trials on IPR?)
• Research problem
• What are the kinds of relations between
  particulars which can be seen under different
  views of identity, as usual in our laws, library
  practice, scholarly tradition ?

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Material and Immaterial CreationWhen is a new
thing produced? - Immaterials

• What about detecting the same concept?
• Claim There are conceptual objects that have an
  identity bound to a characteristic creation, so
  that necessarily all carriers must have a chain
  of tradition to them (see IP rights, secrets,
  know-how). This implies that they can be
  forgotten. If there would be no such objects,
  there would be no immaterial creation.
• Do conceptual object that can be redetected
  have a distinct substance from the invented
  ones and thus can be separated?
• Or should we bind a concept to a tradition
  chain, and declare a merging of two traditions as
  a distinct event? (e.g. Newton Leibniz
  dispute).
• Can observations about particulars be treated
  like invented concepts?
• In FRBROO, we regard a merge of two works as a
  new work.
• Biologists regard a species declaration as
  distinct from a naοve concept.
• Many laws in physics have not been detected
  twice. (Europe, China, Maya?)
• Was zero invented or detected?

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Material and Immaterial Creation When is a new
thing produced? Material Objects

• Identity and historical reasoning
• Who made it, and where?
• Who has seen it? Where does it come from? Who
  were the owners?
• Material Objects exist either from the point in
  time they become an independent material unit
  (birth), or they are completely transformed.
• Relative notion of independence no more kept
  together or no more sticking together?
• Transformation, modification and creation can be
  a point of view.
• In the CRM we say, the documentalist decides
  what it is.

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Material and Immaterial Creation Example
Palimpsest

• Example palimpsest, three independent
  descriptions may describe three different books,
  created at different times, destroyed at
  different times, and yet the same object
• Parchment book created
• First manuscript written
• First manuscript erased
• Second manuscript written
• First manuscript made visible via IR
• book burned together with the library
• Model A 1 Physical Object 2 Physical Features
  2 Information Objects
• Can the ink be seen as separate from the book?
  Is the Feature, rather than the book the carrier?
• Non-monotonic under the (usual) view that
  ignores the creation of the empty book.
• Model A as normalized documentation form
  impractical!

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Material and Immaterial Creation Example
Palimpsest

• Model B a transformation sequence of 4 new
  Physical Objects
• Empty book ends to exist when first manuscript
  is made out of it etc.
• Incompatible with the conservators view.
  Non-monotonic.
• Model C nested identity of phases
• Each manuscript is a phase of the parchment
  book. As such it is new as a manuscript, and old
  as a parchment book.
• Monotonic wrt curator views
• Makes the notion of Production relative to a
  class.

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Conclusions

• We have presented a materialistic view on
  material and immaterial creation under the
  perspective to support the discourse about
  historical provenance and tradition of things and
  ideas. Material constraints apply to the creation
  and tradition of immaterial items. It should be
  possible to formalize them.
• It seems that the notion of carrying immaterial
  objects and transferring them in meetings can
  reasonable describe a part of the historical
  discourse. To be formalized.
• It seems that the notion of absolute identity
  cannot be held when integrating correct
  historical information about the same physical
  reality.
• Lots of open questions with respect to the
  limitations of such a theory and its
  generalization, such as
• Do we have to separate purely mental objects
  from symbolic representations, invented concepts
  from detected concepts and observations about
  particulars? Can/should conceptual objects be
  relative to a tradition?
• Under which conditions can views of relative
  identity occur, and how are the respective
  instances related, and which bearing does that
  have on the notions of modification, derivation
  and creation?

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• new things
• Not seen before. Acquires identity through this
  process.
• literal identity (Leibniz), identity by change
  (writing in a notebook) , identity by tradition
  (computer renewed)
• Problems Modification,
• i.e. preexistence of a carrier, scribbling on a
  stone, a notebook, a palimpsest.
• Derivation from a precursor
• i.e. whatever similarity with another ambiguous
  only for immaterial items. Ambiguous notion of
  new
• New a discrete material thing, a distinct
  immaterial thing, a thing with sufficiently
  different properties To which degree are
  properties relative to the intention? (same text
  on paper or stone, statue in plaster/bronze).
• Evidence of immaterial creation working
  backwards from physical carriers.
• What kinds of things? How does the process differ
  depending on the kind of product?
• To which degree we mess up valuing the degree of
  intellectual contribution with observing
  properties of a factual process and product?
• New in which sense? Can the kind of intention be
  separated from the sense of new? Is absolute
  identity adequate to describe the relevant senses
  of new ?