Theory 1 shows three axioms and two definitions, written in First Order Logic (FOL), that represents a fragment of a mereology theory. For this posting, it is important that the set of axioms is considered as a theory (i.e. a set of axioms together with theorems as a logical consequence of those axioms). In the context of this question, the particular axioms are not significant. Any other set of axioms forming a consistent theory would be equally acceptable.
Theory 1
Axioms
Reflexivity $\forall x : part(x,x)$
Antisymmetry $\forall x \forall y : ((part(x,y) \land part(y,x)) \implies (x = y))$
Transitivity $\forall x \forall y \forall z :((part(x,y) \land part(y,z)) \implies part(x,z))$
Definitions
Overlap : $\forall x,y \colon (overlap(x,y) \iff(\exists z \colon (part(z,x) \land part(z,y)))$
Proper Part : $\forall x,y \colon (proprPart(x,y) \iff (part(x,y) \land \neg part(y,x)))$
I am using CafeOBJ to represent the above logical axioms and definitions, shown in Listing 1:
Listing 1
mod M{
[E]
preds overlap part properPart : E E
-- axioms
ax [M1] : \A[x:E] part(x,x) .
ax [M2] : \A[x:E]\A[y:E] ((part(x,y) & part(y,x)) -> (x = y)) .
ax [M3] : \A[x:E]\A[y:E]\A[z:E]((part(x,y) & part(y,z)) -> part(x,z)) .
-- definitions
ax [DM1] : \A[x:E]\A[y:E] (properPart(x,y) <-> (part(x,y) & ~(part(y,x)))) .
ax [DM2] : \A[x:E]\A[y:E] (overlap(x,y) <-> (\E[z:E] (part(z,x) & part(z,y)))) .
}
Note that the logical theory is contained in a named module called M
. The variables are over a domain of generic entities E
, universal and existential quantification are denoted by \A[x:E]
and \A[x:E]
respectively. In CafeOBJ, named modules allow one to structure signatures, theories, sub/super theories, and models using the Theory of Institutions (TOI).
Below is my naïve attempt to present the axioms as a set of conceptual graphs (CG). My motivation for using CGs is that they provide an intuitive visualization of logic and have a direct relation to Common Logic (ISO zipped PDF).
The above CG was produced using CharGer software as Java zip file (manual).
My understanding of the above CGs is as follows:
- The variables are universally quantified, not default for CGs, but allowed in extended CG (ECG).
- The three graphs are all related by conjunction, which is default for GC.
- The arrow on graph representing reflexivity is bi-directional.
- Both antisymmetry and transitivity are represented by an IF-THEN contexts.
- Dotted lines are co-references.
- Equality (=) is actually commutative, but is represented as a directed relation .
- Each CG asserts a single proposition, labelled Proposition.
Question:
How do I present Theory 1 using CGs? Do I need some labeling that indicates that a set of concepts represent a theory. Or are theories represented by some enclosing special type of concept?