Authors:
Marc Le Goc
1
and
Fabien Vilar
2
Affiliations:
1
Aix-Marseille University and Laboratory for Sciences of Information and Systems (LSIS), France
;
2
Aix-Marseille University, Laboratory for Sciences of Information and Systems (LSIS) and TOM4, France
Keyword(s):
Conceptual Integration Networks, Conceptual blending, Abstraction, Level of Abstraction, Gradient of Abstraction, Knowledge Engineering.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Artificial Intelligence
;
Cognitive Systems
;
Computational Intelligence
;
Evolutionary Computing
;
Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
;
Knowledge-Based Systems
;
Soft Computing
;
Symbolic Systems
Abstract:
Providing a meaning to observations coming from humans (interviews) or machines (data sets) is a necessity to
build adequate analysis and efficient models that can be used to take a decision in a given domain. Fauconnier
and Turner demonstrates in 1998 the cognitive power of their Blending Theory where the blending of multiple
conceptual networks is presented as a general-purpose, fundamental, indispensable cognitive operation to this
aim. On the other hand, Floridi proposed in 2008 a theory of levels of abstraction as a fundamental epistemological
method of conceptual analysis that can also be used to this aim. Both theories complete together but
both lack of mathematical foundations to build an operational data and knowledge modeling method that helps
and guides the Analysts and the Modeling Engineers. In this theoretical paper, we introduce the mathematical
framework, based on the Timed Observations Theory, designed to build a method of abstraction merging
together the Bl
ending Theory and the Levels of Abstraction Theory. Up to our knowledge, this is the first
mathematical theory allowing the operationalization of the Blending Theory and the Levels of Abstraction
Theory. All over the paper, the mathematical framework is illustrated on an oral exchange between three persons
observing a vehicle. We show that this framework allows to build a rational meaning of this exchange
under the form of a superposition of three abstraction levels.
(More)