An Ontological Theory of Physical Objects
Stefano Borgo, Nicola Guarino, Claudio Masolo · 2001
We discuss an approach to a theory of physical objects and present a logical theory based on a fundamental distinction between objects and their substrates, i.e. chunks of matter and regions of space. The purpose is to establish the basis of a general ontology of space, matter and physical objects for the domain of mechanical artifacts. An extensional mereological framework is assumed for substrates, whereas physical objects are allowed to change their spatial and material substrate while keeping their identity. Besides the parthood relation, simple self-connected region and congruence (or sphere) are adopted as primitives for the description of space. Only three-dimensional regions are assumed in the domain. This paper is a revision and slight modification of [Borgo et al. 1996]. 1.