## Roles

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Last Update: 12/13/02
Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.

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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**

> (#$representsAgentInEvent REPRESENTATIVE AGENT EVENT) means that REPRESENTATIVE is an agent who represents AGENT in the temporal situation EVENT. It is not uncommon for the same REPRESENTATIVE to represent multiple agents in the same EVENT, e.g. when someone is appointed to represent the interests of a group.
> guid: bd58800a-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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 #$HobbyCapacity (though they do it while working, it's not part of their job).
> guid: bd590a7d-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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.
> guid: bd58c518-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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).
> guid: bd59013f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd588246-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd588c81-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$AttributeValue #$Individual

#$JobCapacity job capacity **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> the attribute of performing something as a job
> guid: bd58817f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd5891ae-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd58acbc-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd58ca98-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd58c81f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd58fe45-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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 #$UnitedStatesPresident. This notion of legal capability should not be confused with the legality or illegality of an action.
> guid: bd5893a9-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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 #$Animal AGENT has the anatomical prerequisites (natural or prosthetic) needed to play ROLE in normal instances of SIT-TYPE.
> guid: bd589dd8-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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.
> guid: bd589572-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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 #$Agent AGENT has the financial resources needed to play ROLE in normal instances of SIT-TYPE.
> guid: bd58946a-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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.
> guid: bd58a981-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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 #$HighToVeryHigh degree.
> guid: bd58b9df-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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 #$VeryLow). (Rohrbaugh, 2/1998)
> guid: bd58ad91-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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 #$VeryHigh). (Rohrbaugh, 3/1998)
> guid: bd58e527-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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 #$purposeInEvent.
> guid: bd590676-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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.
> guid: c1560de3-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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.
> guid: bd5890e5-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> 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 #$Funeral is in honor.
> guid: bd588dbf-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$BinaryRolePredicate
> direct specialization of: #$highlyRelevantInEvent

#$maleficiary maleficiary

> (#$maleficiary EVENT AGENT) means that the #$Agent AGENT is harmed by the occurrence of the #$Event EVENT. That is, the interest or welfare of AGENT is thwarted, blocked, or harmed in EVENT.
> guid: bd66d33a-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$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)); #$touches covers both direct touching and touching indirectly (i.e., through a thin layer, e.g., through clothing).
> guid: be933b9f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$Role #$SpatialPredicate #$TernaryPredicate

Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.