Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: Ontology is currently perceived as the solution of first resort for all problems related to biomedical terminology, and the use of description logics is seen as a minimal requirement on adequate ontology-based systems. Contrary to common conceptions, however, description logics alone are not able to prevent incorrect representations; this is because they do not come with a theory indicating what is computed by using them, just as classical arithmetic does not tell us anything about the entities that are added or subtracted. In this paper we shall show that ontology is indeed an essential part of any solution to the problems of medical terminology – but only if it is understood in the right sort of way. Ontological engineering, we shall argue, should in every case go hand in hand with a sound ontological theory.
Authors: Werner Ceusters, Barry Smith, Jim Flanagan
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
OpenAlex ID: W2189389933