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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10119/10958

Title: Towards A Unified Definition of Function
Authors: Mizoguchi, Riichiro
Kitamura, Yoshinobu
Borgo, Stefano
Keywords: ontology
function
context
role
biological function
engineering function
Issue Date: 2012
Publisher: IOS Press
Magazine name: Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications
Volume: 239
Start page: 103
End page: 116
DOI: 10.3233/978-1-61499-084-0-103
Abstract: Both natural objects and artifacts have been studied from a variety of perspectives by the different sciences. One issue that has so far resisted philosophical and ontological investigations is the definition of a general notion of function capable of making sense of the functions attributed to natural objects, such as biological organisms, as well as of the functions attributed to artifacts, such as (designed) tools. The paper starts from the notions of role and context to study a definition already used to define artifact functions. The clarification of types of functional contexts and of the role of intentionality in defining function leads to a new proposal that applies to functions of natural objects as well as of artifacts. Finally, we evaluate our proposal against some desiderata discussed in the literature.
Rights: Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, Volume 239, Riichiro Mizoguchi, Yoshinobu Kitamura, Stefano Borgo, Towards A Unified Definition of Function, pp.103-116, Copyright 2012, with permission from IOS Press. http://ebooks.iospress.nl/publication/6872
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10119/10958
Material Type: author
Appears in Collections:z14-10-2. 図書 (Book, Book Chapter)

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