Searching for just a few words should be enough to get started. If you need to make more complex queries, use the tips below to guide you.
Article type: Research Article
Authors: Borgo, Stefano; | Franssen, Maarten | Garbacz, Paweł | Kitamura, Yoshinobu | Mizoguchi, Riichiro | Vermaas, Pieter E.
Affiliations: Laboratory for Applied Ontology, ISTC-CNR and KRDB FUB, Trento, Italy | Philosophy Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands | Department of Philosophy, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland | Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan | Research Center for Service Science, School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Komatsu, Japan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Stefano Borgo, LOA, ISTC-CNR, Via alla Cascata 56/C, Povo I-38100, Trento, Italy. Tel.: +39 0461 314873; Fax: +39 0461 314875; E-mail: stefano.borgo@cnr.it
Abstract: Humans are always interested in distinguishing natural and artificial entities although there is no sharp demarcation between the two categories. Surprisingly, things do not improve when the second type of entities is restricted to the arguably more constrained realm of physical technical artifacts. This paper helps to clarify the relationship between natural entities and technical artifacts by developing a conceptual landscape within which to analyze these notions. The framework is developed by studying three definitions of technical artifact which arise from different perspectives. All these perspectives share two intuitions: that technical artifacts are physical objects that exist by human intervention; and that technical artifacts are entities to be contrasted to natural entities. Yet the perspectives are different in the way they spell out these intuitions: the relevant human intervention may range from intentional selection to intentional production; and the contrast between technical artifacts and natural entities may be introduced by a constitution relation or by defining properties that set technical artifacts apart. The three perspectives are compared and their similarities and dissimilarities are explored with the help of ontological analysis.
Keywords: Technical artifact, formal ontology, natural–artificial distinction
DOI: 10.3233/AO-140137
Journal: Applied Ontology, vol. 9, no. 3-4, pp. 217-235, 2014
IOS Press, Inc.
6751 Tepper Drive
Clifton, VA 20124
USA
Tel: +1 703 830 6300
Fax: +1 703 830 2300
sales@iospress.com
For editorial issues, like the status of your submitted paper or proposals, write to editorial@iospress.nl
IOS Press
Nieuwe Hemweg 6B
1013 BG Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 688 3355
Fax: +31 20 687 0091
info@iospress.nl
For editorial issues, permissions, book requests, submissions and proceedings, contact the Amsterdam office info@iospress.nl
Inspirees International (China Office)
Ciyunsi Beili 207(CapitaLand), Bld 1, 7-901
100025, Beijing
China
Free service line: 400 661 8717
Fax: +86 10 8446 7947
china@iospress.cn
For editorial issues, like the status of your submitted paper or proposals, write to editorial@iospress.nl
如果您在出版方面需要帮助或有任何建, 件至: editorial@iospress.nl