Roles
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Cyc has many ways of representing and considering the
capacities of an entity--object or agent--to participate in a
situation. Many of the following capability predicates refer to #$ActorSlots.
Capacities
#$representsAgentInEvent represents
agent in event
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
(#$representsAgentInEvent
REPRESENTATIVE AGENT EVENT) means that REPRESENTATIVE is an
agent who represents AGENT in the temporal situation EVENT.
It is not uncommon for the same REPRESENTATIVE to represent
multiple agents in the same EVENT, e.g. when someone is
appointed to represent the interests of a group.
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
#$actsInCapacity acts
in capacity
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$actsInCapacity
indicates the capacity in which an agent participates in
certain kinds of actions. (#$actsInCapacity
AGENT ROLE SCRIPT-TYPE CAP) means that the agent AGENT plays
the role ROLE in instances of SCRIPT-TYPE, and s/he does
that role in the capacity CAP. CAP is a #$CapacityAttribute
(q.v.) which describes the AGENT's mode of
participation--e.g., as a job, hobby, main function, support
function, etc. Contrast three cases of acts of
#$GreetingSomeone, when #$performedBy: (1)
instances of #$Receptionist, in their #$JobCapacity and
as their #$MainFunction;
(2) instances of #$FlightAttendant, in their #$JobCapacity but
as a #$SupportFunction; and (3) instances of
#$TrainEngineer, in a #$HobbyCapacity (though they do it
while working, it's not part of their job).
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direct instance of: #$QuaternaryPredicate
#$actorCapacity actor capacity
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$actorCapacity
is used to indicate the capacity in which some entity
participates in a particular event or situation. (#$actorCapacity
ENTITY SIT CAP) means that ENTITY has an (unspecified) role
in SIT with the #$CapacityAttribute
CAP. An important use of #$actorCapacity
is with the capacity attributes #$MainFunction
or #$IntendedFunction
to state that a device is serving its #$primaryFunction or
intended function (i.e., #$intendedBehaviorCapable)
in a certain situation.
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
#$CapacityAttribute capacity attribute
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
A specialization of #$AttributeValue.
Each instance of #$CapacityAttribute
is an attribute representing a specific capacity in which an
agent does an action. For example, an action might be done
as an agent's job (#$JobCapacity) or
hobby (#$HobbyCapacity), as its main function (#$MainFunction)
or an auxiliary function (#$SupportFunction).
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direct instance of:
#$ObjectType
#$AtemporalNecessarilyEssentialCollectionType
direct specialization of:
#$AttributeValue
#$IntendedFunction intended function
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
An instance of #$CapacityAttribute.
The attribute #$IntendedFunction
characterizes something participating in a situation as
doing so in accordance with its intended function.
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direct instance of:
#$AttributeValue
#$Individual
#$MainFunction main function
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
One of the attributes which characterize the
capacity in which some agent does a kind of action. #$MainFunction
indicates that an agent does a certain type of action as its
main function (rather than, say, as a hobby). #$MainFunction
can be used to indicate the function that an organization
was created to do; e.g., the #$MainFunction
of the #$USBorderPatrol is #$Patrolling the U.S. border. See
#$actsInCapacity.
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direct instance of:
#$AttributeValue
#$Individual
#$JobCapacity job capacity
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
the attribute of performing something as a job
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direct instance of:
#$AttributeValue
#$Individual
Capability
#$behaviorCapable behavior capable
The predicate #$behaviorCapable
is used to indicate that an object (an instance of #$SomethingExisting)
can play a role (an instance of #$BinaryRolePredicate) in a
type of situation (a specialization of
#$Situation-Temporal). (#$behaviorCapable
OBJ SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that OBJ is able to play ROLE in a
situation of type SIT-TYPE. Note that OBJ may or may not
have been designed to function in that way (see the
specializations of #$behaviorCapable,
#$primaryFunction and #$intendedBehaviorCapable).
Moreover, #$behaviorCapable
does not imply that OBJ can unquestionably act in that way
in every such situation, since extrinsic factors may prevent
it from doing so; for example, if OBJ is a tool, it may be
in the wrong location or operated by a person lacking the
requisite skills. Examples: (intended capability) a hammer
is #$behaviorCapable
of being the #$deviceUsed
in instances of #$HammeringANail; (unintended capability) an
inner tube is capable of being the #$deviceUsed
in instances of people #$FloatingInLiquid.
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direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
#$CapabilityPredicate-InstanceLevel
#$IndividualLevelPredicate
#$intendedBehaviorCapable intended
behavior capable
A #$CapabilityPredicate that is used to describe
the functions a given artifact (see #$Artifact-Generic) is,
by design, capable of serving. (#$intendedBehaviorCapable
ARTIFACT SITTYPE ROLE) means that (i) ARTIFACT can play ROLE
in situations or events of type SITTYPE (see #$behaviorCapable)
and (ii) ARTIFACT is intended by its designer to play ROLE
in situations or events of type SITTYPE. Note that a given
artifact can be intended to be capable of serving more than
one function. (In contrast, such things typically have just
one _primary_ function; see #$primaryFunction.) For example,
a wall calendar is intended to be capable both of being hung
on a wall and of being legible; a vacuum cleaner is meant to
serve both as a device (see #$deviceUsed)
and -- in virtue of its dust bag -- as a container (see
#$containerUsed) in #$Vacuuming events.
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direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
direct specialization of:
#$behaviorCapable
#$intendedPrimaryFunction intended
primary function
A specialization of both #$primaryFunction and #$intendedBehaviorCapable
(qq.v.) that is used to indicate the primary or typical use
a given artifact (see #$Artifact-Generic) was designed to
serve. (#$intendedPrimaryFunction
ARTIFACT SITTYPE ROLE) means that (i) the primary function
of ARTIFACT is to play ROLE in situations of the type
SITTYPE and (ii) ARTIFACT was intended by its designer
primarily to play ROLE in SITTYPEs. For example, the
intended primary function of a #$MammographyProvider is to
provide service (see #$providerOfService)
in #$MammographicBreastCancerScreenings; and the intended
primary function of a #$Pump-Mechanical is to cause things
to move (see #$providerOfMotiveForce)
in #$ConveyingMaterials events. Most artifacts have just one
intended primary function, but some have more than one. For
example, a clock-radio has two intended primary functions:
displaying the current time of day and converting
transmitted radio signals into audible sounds. Note that in
#$SimpleDeviceFunctioningMt, however, it is assumed that
every #$PhysicalDevice
has only one intended primary function.
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
direct specialization of: #$primaryFunction #$intendedBehaviorCapable
#$requiresForRole requires
for role
(#$requiresForRole
SIT COL ROLE) means that the success of an agent acting
deliberately in the #$Situation-Temporal SIT (see the
predicate #$successfulForAgents)
is contingent upon the existence of an instance of the
collection COL playing the role ROLE in SIT. Compare this
predicate to #$requiresRole-SitType.
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
#$capableOf capability
This predicate can be used to assert that an agent
is fully able to carry out a certain role in a certain type
of situation. (#$capableOf AGENT
SITTYPE ROLE) means that AGENT is able to perform ROLE in
#$Situations of the type SITTYPE. This entails that AGENT is
qualified in all the relevant ways to fill that ROLE; i.e.
AGENT is #$physicallyCapableOf playing that ROLE in
instances of SITTYPE -- and, given that AGENT is the
appropriate sort of #$Agent -- is also #$anatomicallyCapableOf,
#$fiscallyCapableOf,
#$legallyCapableOf,
and #$skillCapableOf
playing that ROLE in SITTYPEs.
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direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
#$CapabilityPredicate-InstanceLevel
direct specialization of:
#$behaviorCapable
#$physicallyCapableOf
#$legallyCapableOf legally
capable of
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$legallyCapableOf
indicates that an agent is legally able to take a certain
role in a certain type of action. (#$legallyCapableOf
AGENT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that the individual AGENT is
legally qualified and/or entitled to act in this ROLE in
#$Situations of the type SIT-TYPE. For example, a person
over 35 years of age is #$legallyCapableOf
becoming #$UnitedStatesPresident.
This notion of legal capability should not be confused with
the legality or illegality of an action.
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direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
#$anatomicallyCapableOf anatomically
capable of
The predicate #$anatomicallyCapableOf
indicates that an agent is anatomically able to play a
certain role in a certain type of situation or event. (#$anatomicallyCapableOf
AGENT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that an individual #$Animal AGENT has
the anatomical prerequisites (natural or prosthetic) needed
to play ROLE in normal instances of SIT-TYPE.
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direct instance of:
#$CapabilityPredicate-InstanceLevel
#$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
#$skillCapableOf skill
capable of
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
This predicate can be used to assert that a given
animal agent has the ability to play a certain role in a
certain type of #$SkilledActivity (q.v.). (#$skillCapableOf
ANIMAL ACTTYPE ROLE) means that ANIMAL has the necessary
skills to act in ROLE in normal instances of ACTTYPE. For
example, that #$Gumby can swim is expressed by (#$skillCapableOf
#$Gumby #$Swimming-Generic #$performedBy). #$skillCapableOf
entails that ANIMAL satisfies any anatomical or intellectual
prerequisites for possessing or exercising the skill; but it
is neutral as to whether ANIMAL has the necessary resources
of time, money, opportunity, etc., to use the skill in any
particular instance of ACTTYPE.
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direct instance of:
#$CapabilityPredicate-InstanceLevel
#$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
direct specialization of: #$learnedCapableOf
#$fiscallyCapableOf fiscally
capable of
The predicate #$fiscallyCapableOf
indicates that an agent has the economic prerequisites
needed for playing a certain role in a certain type of
situation or event. (#$fiscallyCapableOf
AGENT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that a particular #$Agent AGENT has the
financial resources needed to play ROLE in normal instances
of SIT-TYPE.
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direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
#$CapabilityPredicate-InstanceLevel
Helping And Harming
#$helpfulActions helpful actions
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$helpfulActions
is used to indicate that an agent engaged in a particular
effort would (normally) increase the chances of success in
that effort by taking a certain role in events of a certain
kind. (#$helpfulActions
ENDEAVOR SIT-TYPE ROLE DEGREE) means that the #$PurposefulAction
ENDEAVOR would (normally) be helped along if its agent
participated as described by ROLE in a situation of the type
SIT-TYPE. DEGREE is an instance of #$GenericQuantity used to
give an estimate of how helpful such an occurrence would be
for succeeding in ENDEAVOR. For example, for an agent trying
to win in a football or soccer game, performing instances of
#$InterceptingAPass contributes to a #$HighToVeryHigh degree
to success in that game.
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direct instance of:
#$FunctionalPredicate
#$QuaternaryPredicate
#$harmfulActions harmful actions
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$harmfulActions
is used to indicate that an agent engaged in a particular
effort would (normally) diminish the chances of success in
that effort by taking a certain role in events of a certain
kind. (#$harmfulActions
ENDEAVOR SIT-TYPE ROLE DEGREE) means that the #$PurposefulAction
ENDEAVOR would (normally) be hindered if its agent
participated as described by ROLE in a situation of the type
SIT-TYPE. DEGREE is an instance of #$GenericQuantity used to
give an estimate of how damaging such an occurrence would be
to the success of ENDEAVOR. For example, for an agent trying
to win in a football game, fumbling the ball disadvantages
the agent to a #$HighToVeryHigh degree.
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direct instance of: #$QuaternaryPredicate
#$harmfulProposition harmful proposition
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$harmfulProposition
is used to state a condition that, if true, would (normally)
diminish an agent's chances of success in a particular
effort. (#$harmfulProposition
ENDEAVOR PROP DEGREE) means that if the #$ELSentence-Assertible
PROP is true, then AGENT (who is referred to in PROP) will
(normally) be hindered in achieving the #$PurposefulAction
ENDEAVOR. DEGREE is a #$GenericQuantity giving an estimate
of how damaging such an occurrence would be to the success
of ENDEAVOR. For example, in a basketball game, it's
normally very detrimental if one or more of the team's
players is shorter than the average adult. Thus, for any
particular game, a #$HighToVeryHigh degree of disadvantage
is indicated if the following #$harmfulProposition
(expressed in #$CycL) is true: (#$heightOfObject
PLAYER-X (#$GenValueFn #$heightOfObject
#$HumanAdult
#$VeryLow). (Rohrbaugh, 2/1998)
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
#$helpfulProposition helpful proposition
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$helpfulProposition
is used to state a condition that, if true, would (normally)
increase an agent's chances of success in a particular
effort. (#$helpfulProposition
ENDEAVOR PROP DEGREE) means that if the #$ELSentence-Assertible
PROP is true, then AGENT (who is referred to in PROP) will
(normally) be helped in achieving the #$PurposefulAction
ENDEAVOR. DEGREE is a #$GenericQuantity giving an estimate
of how helpful such an occurrence would be to the success of
ENDEAVOR. For example, in a basketball game, it's normally
helpful if one or more of the team's players is alot taller
than the average adult. Thus, for any particular game, a
#$High degree of advantage is indicated if the following #$helpfulProposition
(expressed in #$CycL) is true: (#$heightOfObject
PLAYER-X (#$GenValueFn #$heightOfObject
#$BasketballPlayer #$VeryHigh). (Rohrbaugh, 3/1998)
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direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
#$successfulForAgents successful
for agents
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$successfulForAgents
is used to indicate that a particular agent achieves its
goal in a particular action. (#$successfulForAgents
ENDEAVOR AGT) means that the #$Agent AGT is
successful in accomplishing the #$PurposefulAction
ENDEAVOR. This means that each of the purposes AGT had in
doing ENDEAVOR has come true. See also #$purposeInEvent.
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direct instance of:
#$ActorSlot
direct specialization of:
#$performedBy
#$failureForAgents failure
The predicate #$failureForAgents
is used to indicate that a particular agent fails to achieve
(at least one of) its goals in a particular action. (#$failureForAgents
ENDEAVOR AGENT) means that the #$Agent AGENT had some
purpose in performing ENDEAVOR that was not realized. See
also #$purposeInEvent.
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direct instance of:
#$ActorSlot
direct specialization of:
#$performedBy
#$beneficiary beneficiary
(actor slot) (role) (extensional representation predicate)
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
(#$beneficiary ACT
AGT) means that the #$Agent AGT benefits
from the performance of the action ACT. Some desire or
interest of AGT is served, enabled, helped, or satisfied by
the performance of ACT.
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direct instance of:
#$ActorSlot
#$eventHonors honoree
(role) (extensional representation predicate)
(#$eventHonors
OCCURRENCE AGENT) means that the #$Agent AGENT is honored
or commemorated by the #$SocialOccurrence
OCCURRENCE. If AGENT is a living #$Person, then (#$eventHonors
OCCURRENCE AGENT) usually implies that AGENT is present at
OCCURRENCE. Note that this is the appropriate predicate for
relating a #$Funeral to the deceased person for whom the
#$Funeral is in honor.
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direct instance of: #$BinaryRolePredicate
direct specialization of: #$highlyRelevantInEvent
#$maleficiary maleficiary
(#$maleficiary
EVENT AGENT) means that the #$Agent AGENT is harmed
by the occurrence of the #$Event EVENT. That is,
the interest or welfare of AGENT is thwarted, blocked, or
harmed in EVENT.
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direct instance of:
#$ActorSlot
#$objectsInContact objects
in contact
**COMMENT NOT REVIEWED**
**GAFs NOT REVIEWED**
The predicate #$objectsInContact
indicates that two different objects physically touch in a
particular #$PhysicalContactSituation.
(#$objectsInContact
SIT OBJ-1 OBJ-2) means that OBJ-1 and OBJ-2 are in contact
in the #$PhysicalContactSituation
SIT. For example, a #$ClothingItem
and its #$wearer
are #$objectsInContact
during the wearing. A father and son in a
#$CarryingPiggyback event are #$objectsInContact.
(#$objectsInContact
SIT OBJ-1 OBJ-2) entails (#$holdsIn SIT (#$touches OBJ-1
OBJ-2)); #$touches covers
both direct touching and touching indirectly (i.e., through
a thin layer, e.g., through clothing).
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direct instance of:
#$Role #$SpatialPredicate
#$TernaryPredicate
Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.