FROLIO – Formalizable Relationship-Oriented Language-Insensitive Ontology

© Roger M Tagg 2008, 2010

Welcome to FROLIO – a new attempt to merge philosophy and the "semantic web". This website is in process of continuous development.

FROLIO - Idea Structures

Introduction

A number of types of relationships involve Ideas. This page aims to enlarge on some of the different types of Ideas that we may want to talk about.

This page is incomplete at present.

Idea Type List

Name of Major Structure Type Explanation

Examples

Unstructured thoughts

Random thought The brainwave that hits you when you are in the shower, an odd thought

Dream

Vision Jacob's ladder; Joseph's 7 fat cows and 7 thin ones; Martin Luther King's dream

Intention

Goal, objective New Year's resolution, company mission and objectives

Plan

A structure of actions to meet an objective Strategy, tactic, project plan (action-oriented, not including Designs, see below)

Wish List

A list of things we want Wedding present list, statement of requirements

Problem

Something we don't immediately know the answer to, but can express; a question How can we raise enough money to fund our plan? Will prices, or the stock market, go up or down?

Issue

A balance to be struck; usually where not everyone wants the same balance Global warming, sub-prime mortgage

Design

A layout (structure or shape) of something we would like to build (physical or social) Architect's house plan, company organization structure (not yet accepted)

Rule

An undertaking to apply sanction if certain events unfold (sometimes in English means a Theory) Laws, Threats, Procedure manuals

Theory

A story to explain some observations Newton's, Einstein's, Darwin's

Mythology

A structure of stories to make complex things more simple Classical Greek, Roman, Teutonic etc myths, "Old Testament" Religion

Solution

A blueprint to meet a requirement or solve a problem or resolve an issue Answer, Proof, Accepted Design (architect/Engineer/Infosys), Drawing

Intuition

Recalling experience, Native intelligence, Gut feel, hunch

Idea Structure

Architect's or Engineer's drawing, Computer system design (This could be a compound incorporating several of the examples above)

Links

These link you, the reader, to more details about FROLIO. The core of this website is a set of pages about relationships - links to these are on the first table below. The index in the bottom row points to a set of "diatribes" or opinionated essays, about things the author feels particularly strongly about!

FROLIO home page A simpler introduction to FROLIO The elements of FROLIO The major relationship categories
How FROLIO helps fight Bullshit Index to related essays and diatribes Author's rationale for doing all this A reading list

Explanations of major components in FROLIO

Abstract concepts Activities What we can say about things and concepts What we mean by Context
Why simple hierarchies aren't enough Different types of Ideas Things, concepts, objects and classes Scenarios and "states of affairs"
Different sorts of Structures      

Some of these links may be under construction – or re-construction.

This version updated on 29th January 2010

If you have constructive suggestions or comments, please contact the author rogertag@tpg.com.au .