LOF-P-007: Textual definitions

Draft for ratification

Part of the founding draft of the LOF principles.

Summary

Every class and relation has a precise, non-circular textual definition.

Purpose

In law, the meaning of a term is often the point in dispute. Definitions make the intended meaning checkable by lawyers and domain experts who will never read an axiom.

Recommendations and requirements

1. Every class and relation in the ontology's namespace has exactly one English definition, recorded with skos:definition or IAO:0000115.
2. Class definitions take genus and differentia form where possible: "An X is a Y that Z", where Y is the asserted parent.
3. Definitions do not use the term being defined, and cite a source (statute, case, treatise) with dcterms:source where one exists.

Implementation

Add the definition when the term is created. Protégé's annotation panel supports both properties.

Examples

legal role: "A role that inheres in a person or organization in virtue of recognition by a legal institution and that is realized in legally significant processes." (Illustrative only.)

Criteria for review

Definitions are present, match the asserted parent, and are intelligible to a legal expert.

Automated check: SPARQL check missing-definition-violation.

Feedback and discussion

Propose changes to this principle by pull request against docs/principles/lof-p-007-definitions.md, or open a thread in Discussions.

Discussion