Conceptual system
As a conceptual system ( engl. Concept Scheme or Knowledge Organization System), various types of systems from each other clearly definable terms summarized (also concepts, classes, objects, entities, items ..) and their designations, which are connected by relations. In addition, the systems may contain definitions, rules, and other descriptions. A term system can turn itself be represented as a concept.
Examples of concept system formations
- The term family is itself a concept system that consists of the relations of kinship relations.
- All axiom systems of mathematics, are conceptual systems whose terms are connected with the exception of axiomatic concepts themselves by definitions together. For example, the geometric concepts of Euclidean geometry as an angle, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, etc. The basic undefined terms of an axiom system, together with the axioms always a holistic concept system.
- The terms skin, head, brain, liver, stomach, kidney, blood, etc. are genetically linked, because they are applicable to objects that have emerged as organs of an organism from a fertilized egg.
- The terms of biological evolution to describe the species that have emerged evolutionarily apart, form a system of concepts whose terms are linked by common ancestry with the terms of the particular species.
The classification of systems of concepts because of their structure
Hierarchical conceptual systems
Circle Free definitional conceptual systems are called hierarchical concept systems. Your semantic dependency structure of the terms to each other shows the unilateral dependence on conceptual hierarchies, because the definiendum ( the Zudefinierende ) from Definiens ( the Defining ) dependent and not vice versa. In hierarchical concept systems there is always undefined basic concepts, such as is the case with all axiom systems. The derived from the axioms concepts form of hierarchical concept systems. But all systems of concepts with which distinct lineage relationships are described, have the structure of hierarchical concept systems. This also applies to the findings obtained over time in the context of so-called normal science.
Holistic systems of concepts
Conceptual systems whose terms are to each other in a mutual importance dependency, hot holistic conceptual systems. If you try to set up a definitional relationship between the terms holistic conceptual systems, it always ends in circular definitions. Such definitional circle that occur in the mathematical axiom systems when trying to determine the undefined axiomatic terms by the solution method of systems of equations, Gottlob Frege has found first. Accordingly, the undefined terms of an axiom system axiomatic form of holistic conceptual systems.
Pairs of terms
The simplest holistic conceptual systems are pairs of terms ( true - false, big - small, digital - analog, left - right, male - female, form - content General - Single, hierarchically - holistically, etc. ), in which two terms by a significance relationship are connected as in a Antonymbeziehung or in a Komplementsbeziehungen in mutual semantic or existential dependence with each other.
Begriffstripel
Begriffstripel are holistic systems of concepts with three terms, as passed, for example - present - future, plus - neutral - minus, exterior - frontier - Spiritual, cause - effect - connecting rule (law) Possible - Real - unrealizable. The axiom systems with three basic concepts undefined form of a Begriffstripel.
Concept of n- tuples
All holistic conceptual systems that are neither couples nor triples are collectively referred to as the concept of n- tuples, where n is the number of terms that make up the holistic system of concepts. Thus, as the holistic conceptual systems, which consist of the terms by which the organs of an organism or the parts of a control system are given, the term n- tuple, and it is hardly possible for the organisms, the number n to determine accurately.
Diversity and use of terminology systems
The variety of different conceptual systems ranges from simple reference books, encyclopedias and glossaries about terminologies, classifications and thesauri to formal schemes, which can range from simple lists of attributes to complex ontologies.
In practice, conceptual systems are often used for knowledge organization and knowledge representation. With increasing use of different conceptual systems compatibility between them plays a crucial role. Terms from different systems can be mapped to each other and connected (→ semantic web ).