FROLIO – Formalizable Relationship-Oriented Language-Insensitive Ontology

Welcome to FROLIO – a new attempt to merge philosophy and the "semantic web". This website is continually under construction - please send suggestions for improvements to the author.

Relationship Major Category Introduction - "Utility"

General Meaning

The general meaning of this relationship type is that A is fit, for the benefit of role B, for the purpose C. There may or may not be a conscious evaluation; we may not necessarily think about the thing that is useful - we just use it (see Heidegger's concept of “at hand”).

Category Icon

The icon represents a human recognizing a key as useful - for some purpose, such as opening a locked door.

Relationship Role Diagram (for key to the letter codes click here)

Something (reading clockwise from the spanner on the left, a tool, an idea, an animal, an arbitrary thing or one or more humans, all in role A) are useful to another thing (mostly from the same classes in role B), for the purpose, goal or procedure represented by role C role. In the case of the substitution sub-category, role X might be significant in specifying the context in which substitution could take place.

A or B	A or B	A or B	A or B	A or B
A or B				C
A			C
P				Z
	T	X	Y

Relationship Types in this Category

In most of these cases, there is the possibility of a negative relationship (e.g. "is no use for"), and also of a judged or measured value of "how much use is it?".

There is one main sub-category, “Uu”, which covers situations where role A is useful for a certain goal, purpose or activity. In all except the last case a B role is not compulsory, as the A role may well be useful for "anyone" - at least anyone trying to pursue the goal or procedure in role C.

is useful for - the A role helps people in pursuing the C role
is capable of - a tool, human, animal etc is capable of doing a certain job, carrying out a process etc.
is designed for - the A role has been purposefully designed with the particular C role in mind
is appropriate for - given assumptions on how the C role operates or is performed, the A role is a good choice.
is employed by <role B> for <role C> - the A role is actually being (or has been) employed by B in pursuing the C role.

The next sub-category, “Us”, covers situations where role A is a possible substitute, or alternative in place of role B for the purpose of role C.

is a substitute for <role B> when pursuing <role C>. One thing or person can be substituted for another to achieve the same goals or results for some people.
is an alternative to <role B> for the purpose of <role C> A tool, human, animal etc is another way of doing a certain job, carrying out a process etc.

The third sub-category, “Uo”, covers situations where the presence or existence of role A is an opportunity for pursuing role B.

is opportunity for <role B> to achieve <role C>. The availability of the A role creates the chance for the B role to achieved role C. One "thing" that could provide such an opportunity is an event, or a state of affairs.

The main sub-category, “Uh”, covers situations where role A is a habit for people in role C pursuing role B.

is a habit for <role B> for the purpose of <role C>.
is frequented by <role B> for the purpose of <role C>. the frequented A role might be a habitat, or a service.

Examples

Usefulness
The accelerator pedal is useful for making the car go faster. John Smith is useful as a change bowler (or substitute player, pinch hitter etc). The new management team is capable of turning round the company's fortunes. A lawnmower is designed for cutting grass. A Phillips screwdriver is appropriate for removing or screwing screws with cross-shaped grooves. A dark suit is appropriate for a man to wear at a funeral. The trained dog is employed by a blind person to help him/her get around.

Substitution
The player on the bench was a substitute for the centre-half (when pursuing the goal of winning the game when the other guy got injured). Ink cartridge refills are an alternative to buying expensive replacement cartridges (for the purpose of saving money). Zen Buddhism is an alternative to Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity or Islam) when trying to find a good philosophy for living.

Opportunity
The current Good Guys discount is an opportunity for us to buy a new washing machine.

Habituation
Eating a pack of leaf baby spinach once a week is a habit for me for the purpose of getting a balanced diet. The area round our waste bins is frequented by a pack of rats for the purpose of finding scraps of food . The Blue Anchor is frequented by Bob Slicker for the purpose of a boozy and companionable evening .

Links to other Categories (these cross-links now fixed!)

Arrangement is in some order with	Classification is a	Distinguishing is different from	Interaction communicates with
Logic is deduction from	Motivation is motivated by	Partitioning is part of	Representation represents
Sensation is experienced by	Transformation is changed from	Utility is useful for	Volition is wanted by