The Philosophy of Geo-Ontologies: Applied Ontology of Geography (SpringerBriefs in Geography)

Placed at the intersection among philosophy, geography, and computer science, the domain of investigation of applied ontology of geography ranges from making explicit assumptions and commitments of geography as a discipline, to the theoretical and technical needs of geographical/IT tools, such as GIS and geo-ontologies. Such a domain of investigation represents the central topic of discussion of this book, which intends: 1) to provide an overview of the mutual interactions among the disciplines encompassed in the domain; 2) to discuss notions such as spatial representation, boundaries, and geographical entities that constitute the main focus of the (philosophical) ontology of geography; 3) to propose a geographical classification of geo-ontologies in response to their increasing diffusion within the contemporary debate, as well as to show what ontological categories best systematize their contents. The second edition of the book differs from the first one as it offers a broader analysis of the (philosophical) ontology of geography: an analysis that is no more limited to the theoretical need of geo-ontologies. Introduction Contents Part I Among Computer Science, Philosophy, and Geography: An Ontological Investigation 1 From the Philosophies of Geographies to the Applied Ontology of Geography 1.1 On the Connections Between Philosophy and Geography 1.2 Two Triangles 1.3 Ontologies of Geography 1.4 Digital Geographies 1.5 Big-O Ontology Versus Small-o Ontologies 1.6 The Geo-Ontological Circle 1.7 (Small-o) Ontological Interdisciplinary Connections 1.8 Five Features of (Big-O) Ontological Knowledge 1.9 (Big-G) Geographical Disconnections 1.10 Representations and Practices 1.11 From Applied o/Ontology of Geography to Applied o/Ontology of Geography References 2 The Ontological Background 2.1 IT/Computer Ontologies and Semantic Web 2.2 Some Definitions of IT/Computer Ontology 2.3 Clarification of Terms 2.4 From the Ontological Turn to Taxonomies of Philosophical Ontologies 2.5 Ontology, Metaphysics, and Scientific Disciplines 2.6 Ontology of Geography 2.7 Common-Sense Geography 2.8 Primary and Secondary Theories 2.9 Mark and Smith’s Experiments 2.10 Analysis of Results References Part II Systematizing the Geographical World 3 Spatial Representation 3.1 Ontology of Geography and Spatial Representation 3.2 Tools for Spatial Representation 3.3 Classical and Non-Classical Geographies 3.4 Issues from Cartographic Representation 3.5 The Capital of Singapore 3.6 Looking for No Man’s Land 3.7 Sailing to Thule 3.8 Poland into Exile 3.9 Conclusion References 4 Boundaries 4.1 The Ontology of Geographical Boundaries 4.2 Bona Fide and Fiat Boundaries 4.3 Legal Fiat Boundaries and Normativity 4.4 Physical and Institutional Boundaries 4.5 Boundaries, Cultural Diversities, Human Beliefs 4.6 Cultural Boundaries? 4.7 Three Levels of Cultural Dependence 4.8 Conclusion References 5 Geographical Entities 5.1 A Chaotic List that Cries Out for Explanation 5.2 Avoiding Univocal and Incomplete Accounts 5.3 Laundry Lists 5.4 Attempts of Definition 5.5 On Being Portrayed on Maps 5.6 Maps, Granularity of Interest, and Multiple Levels of Details 5.7 On What and Where 5.8 Drawing the Contour 5.9 Cultural Entities 5.10 GIS, Knowledge Engineering, and Geographic Objects 5.11 Rivers, Fleuves, and Revières 5.12 Danube, Donau, and Дyнaв 5.13 Vagueness 5.14 (Geographical) Kinds and Properties 5.15 Relations, Fields, and Time 5.16 Boundaries 5.17 On Non-Existent and Abstract Geographical Entities 5.18 Historical Entities 5.19 Complex Geographical Entities 5.20 Hierarchical Structures 5.21 Three Thin Red Lines 5.22 From Multiple (Ways of Doing) Geographies to Multiple (Kinds of) Geographical Entities References Part III The Philosophy of Geo-Ontologies 6 Geo-Ontologies: From the Spatial Turn to Geographical Taxonomy 6.1 From the Spatial Turn to the Diffusion of Geo-Ontologies 6.2 The Problem of Existing Taxonomies 6.3 A Geographical Point of View 6.4 A Geo-Ontological Tri-Partition 6.4.1 Spatial Geo-Ontologies 6.4.2 Physical (or Natural) Geo-Ontologies 6.4.3 Human Geo-Ontologies 6.4.4 Other Geo-Ontologies 6.5 Conclusion References 7 Ontological Categories for Geo-Ontologies 7.1 The Geo-Ontological Domain 7.2 Issues of a Categorial Ontology 7.3 On the General Aims of Geo-Ontologies 7.4 From the Need of Accessibility to the Common-Sense Geography 7.5 Ontology Components 7.6 Between Formal Ontologies and Ontological Categories 7.7 Lowe’s Four-Category Ontology 7.8 Overlaps and Deviations: Cumpa’s Fact-Oriented Ontology 7.9 From Components to Contents 7.10 Variantism 7.11 Two Kinds of Completeness 7.12 Completeness and Fundamentality 7.13 Philosophical Ontology Versus IT/Computer Ontology References Conclusion Index