Utilizing OWL for Wittgenstein’s Tractatus

Abstract

This article presents experience gained from an attempt to develop an ontology for
part of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus. The term “ontology” is here used as in computer
science (Artificial Intelligence). A computer science ontology, similar to a
taxonomy, structures information hierarchically and supports semantic retrieval and
reasoning. In this article, we outline the mentioned ontology, its development as
well as possible applications. Several projects in the field of humanities have
already utilized or developed ontologies for different topics. But modelling using
ontologies represents just a starting point for more advanced (computational)
applications in the humanities. In philosophy, the development and application of
ontologies seems still at an early stage. With this article, we wish to help catalyse
and develop this process further.