ISSUE-85: Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex

What-is-Entity

Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex

State:

CLOSED

Product:

prov-dm

Raised by:

Graham Klyne

Opened on:

2011-09-01

Description:

See also: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-prov-wg/2011Aug/0383.html

Section 5.1.

The definition of "Entity" seems to introduce un-needed complications. I don't see anything here that fundamentally distinguishes an entity from anything that can be named, i.e. a web resource.

I don't see what useful purpose is served by the insistence on "characterized thing".

This section seems to spend more effort describing "entity assertion" is is apparently a different concept, but not formally part of the model. There is some sense that an entity must have associated entity assertions... but I can't see why this is needed, and indeed it may be not possible to enforce this idea in RDF's open world model.

There's been talk of Entities being part of the occurrent vs continuant distinction, but I'm not seeing that explained.

Suggest: why not just have an entity as an identifiable thing, and build the rest around that? What would break with this approach?

Related Actions Items:

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Related emails:

1. [PROV-O] issues in document (from p.t.groth@vu.nl on 2011-10-13)
2. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from l.moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-23)
3. Re: new release of PROV-DM document (from Khalid.Belhajjame@cs.man.ac.uk on 2011-09-21)
4. new release of PROV-DM document (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-19)
5. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from simon.miles@kcl.ac.uk on 2011-09-09)
6. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-09)
7. RE: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from MYERSJ4@rpi.edu on 2011-09-06)
8. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-06)
9. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-06)
10. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-06)
11. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-06)
12. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
13. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-05)
14. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-05)
15. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
16. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from GK@ninebynine.org on 2011-09-05)
17. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
18. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
19. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
20. Re: Is _this_ what is meant by 'Entity'? (from L.Moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-05)
21. Re: PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from l.moreau@ecs.soton.ac.uk on 2011-09-02)
22. PROV-ISSUE-85 (What-is-Entity): Definition of Entity is confusing, maybe over-complex [Conceptual Model] (from sysbot+tracker@w3.org on 2011-09-01)

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