Deliberation Ontology
type: Ontology
comment: A comprehensive model for representing deliberative processes across different platforms and contexts.
version info: 1.0.0
description: An ontology for representing and analyzing deliberative processes, arguments, and discourse.
creator: Simone Vagnoni
created: 2025-03-03
modified: 2025-12-22
preferred namespace prefix: deliberation
preferred namespace uri: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
imports: mappings

Argument
type: Class
subclass of: Contribution
comment: A structured form of contribution with premises and conclusions.

Argument Structure
type: Class
comment: The formal structure of an argument, including premises and conclusions.

Conclusion
type: Class
subclass of: Argument Structure
comment: The claim that an argument aims to establish.

Consensus
type: Class
comment: Agreement reached through deliberation.

Contribution
type: Class
comment: Any input provided by a participant in a deliberation.

Cross Platform Identifier
type: Class
comment: Mechanisms to link entities across different deliberation platforms.

Deliberation Process
type: Class
comment: The overall deliberative activity, including its stages, timeline, and outcomes.

Evidence
type: Class
comment: Supporting information for claims made in arguments.

Fallacy Type
type: Class
comment: Classification of logical fallacies that can occur in arguments.

Information Resource
type: Class
comment: External sources of information referenced in deliberations.

Legal Source
type: Class
subclass of: Information Resource
comment: Legal documents, frameworks, or interpretations relevant to deliberations.

Organization
type: Class
comment: Formal entities represented in or responsible for deliberations.

Participant
type: Class
comment: Individuals or entities taking part in a deliberation process.

Position
type: Class
comment: A stance or viewpoint on an issue under deliberation.

Premise
type: Class
subclass of: Argument Structure
comment: A statement that provides support for a conclusion in an argument.

Role
type: Class
comment: The function or position a participant holds in a deliberation.

Stage
type: Class
comment: A distinct phase in a deliberation process with specific activities and goals.

Topic
type: Class
comment: The subject matter of a deliberation.

Forum
type: Class
comment: A physical or virtual space where deliberations take place (e.g., digital platform, parliament chamber, court, public square).

attacks
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Argument
range: Class
  union of: Argument
  union of: Position
comment: Indicates that an argument attacks another argument or position.

contains fallacy
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Argument
range: Fallacy Type
comment: Indicates that an argument contains a specific type of logical fallacy.

has argument
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Argument
comment: Relates a deliberation process to arguments made within it.

has conclusion
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Argument
range: Conclusion
comment: Relates an argument to its conclusion.

has contribution
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Contribution
comment: Relates a deliberation process to contributions made within it.

has evidence
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: Argument
  union of: Premise
range: Evidence
comment: Relates an argument or premise to supporting evidence.

has participant
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Participant
comment: Relates a deliberation process to its participants.

has premise
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Argument
range: Premise
comment: Relates an argument to its premises.

has role
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Participant
range: Role
comment: Relates a participant to their role in a deliberation.

has stage
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Stage
comment: Relates a deliberation process to its stages.

has topic
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Topic
comment: Relates a deliberation process to its topic.

is affiliated with
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Participant
range: Organization
comment: Relates a participant to organizations they are affiliated with.

made by
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Contribution
range: Participant
comment: Relates a contribution to the participant who made it.

references
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: Argument
  union of: Contribution
range: Information Resource
comment: Relates a contribution or argument to information resources it references.

response to
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Contribution
range: Contribution
comment: Relates a contribution to another contribution it responds to.

supports
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Argument
range: Class
  union of: Argument
  union of: Position
comment: Indicates that an argument supports another argument or position.

takes place in
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Deliberation Process
range: Forum
comment: Relates a deliberation process to the forum where it takes place.

end date
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Class
  union of: Deliberation Process
  union of: Stage
range: dateTime
comment: The end date and time of a deliberation process or stage.

identifier
type: DatatypeProperty
range: string
comment: A unique identifier for an entity.

name
type: DatatypeProperty
range: string
comment: The name of an entity.

platform identifier
type: DatatypeProperty
sub property of: identifier
domain: Cross Platform Identifier
range: string
comment: An identifier specific to a particular platform.

start date
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Class
  union of: Deliberation Process
  union of: Stage
range: dateTime
comment: The start date and time of a deliberation process or stage.

text
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Class
  union of: Argument
  union of: Contribution
  union of: Position
  union of: Premise
  union of: Conclusion
range: string
comment: The textual content of a contribution, argument, position, premise, or conclusion.

timestamp
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Contribution
range: dateTime
comment: The date and time when a contribution was made.

url
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Information Resource
range: anyURI
comment: The URL of an information resource.

country
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Participant
range: string
comment: The country of origin of a participant (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code).

participant type
type: DatatypeProperty
domain: Participant
range: string
comment: The type or status of participant (e.g., EU_CITIZEN, NON_EU_CITIZEN, COMPANY, NGO, PUBLIC_AUTHORITY, ACADEMIC_RESEARCH_INSTITUTION).