## Roles

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Last Update: 4/5/02
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: #$ObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$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 **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The predicate #$intendedBehaviorCapable, a specialization of #$behaviorCapable, is used to describe the functions an existing thing is capable of and was designed to serve. (#$intendedBehaviorCapable OBJ SITTYPE ROLE) means that the individual, OBJ, can play the role ROLE in situations or events of type SITTYPE, and that OBJ is intended by its designer to play role ROLE in situations or events of type SITTYPE. Any designed existing thing can have more than one #$intendedBehaviorCapable (whereas, in contrast, designed existing things typically, with some exceptions, have just one #$primaryFunction). For example, a wall calendar is #$intendedBehaviorCapable of being hung on a wall, and is #$intendedBehaviorCapable of being legible; an instance of #$VacuumCleaner can serve both as the #$deviceUsed in instances of #$Vacuuming and (in virtue of its #$VacuumDustBag) as a #$containerUsed.
> guid: bd58acbc-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$SituationTypeTernaryPredicate
> direct specialization of: #$behaviorCapable

#$primaryFunction primary function **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The predicate #$primaryFunction, a specialization of #$intendedBehaviorCapable, is used to indicate the typical use which an agent designed an existing thing to serve. (#$primaryFunction OBJ SITTYPE ROLE) means that OBJ is primarily intended by its designer to participate in situations of the type SITTYPE in the role ROLE (see also #$intendedBehaviorCapable). Examples: the #$primaryFunction of an instance of #$MammographyProvider is to be the #$providerOfService in instances of #$MammographicBreastCancerScreening; the #$primaryFunction of a #$Pump-Mechanical is to be the #$providerOfMotiveForce in instances of #$ConveyingMaterials. Typically, any designed existing thing will have just one #$primaryFunction, but some might have multiple #$primaryFunctions (a good example is a clock radio, which can have both the #$primaryFunction of displaying the time and the #$primaryFunction of converting radio waves into audible sounds at pre-programmed intervals). In #$SimpleDeviceFunctioningMt, it is assumed that every instance of #$PhysicalDevice has only one primary function.
> guid: bd58ca98-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TernaryPredicate
> direct specialization of: #$primaryFunction-AgnosticIntentional #$intendedBehaviorCapable

#$requiresForRole requires for role **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> (#$requiresForRole SIT COL ROLE) means that success of the #$Situation SIT depends 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 AGT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that the individual AGT 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 **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The predicate #$anatomicallyCapableOf indicates that an agent is anatomically able to take a certain role in a certain type of situation or event. (#$anatomicallyCapableOf AGENT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that an individual #$Animal AGENT has the anatomical prerequisites (natural or prosthetic) to act in this ROLE in normal instances of SIT-TYPE. For example, to express that Karen is capable of walking, Cyc would say (#$anatomicallyCapableOf Karen #$WalkingOnTwoLegs #$performedBy). AGENT may or may not have the skills (or other prerequisites) for actually doing a SIT-TYPE. #$anatomicallyCapableOf entails that AGENT satisfies the relevant #$anatomicalResourceRequired constraint--e.g., for Karen's #$WalkingOnTwoLegs, that she has two legs (natural or prosthetic). As a default, Cyc concludes that animals who have the #$anatomicalParts needed for a certain kind of activity are #$anatomicallyCapableOf that activity--for example, that people who have arms and legs are #$anatomicallyCapableOf swimming; those conclusions would be overridden by the additional information that a person was paralyzed.
> 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 **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The predicate #$fiscallyCapableOf indicates that an agent has the economic prerequisites needed for taking a certain role in a certain type of situation or event. (#$fiscallyCapableOf AGT SIT-TYPE ROLE) means that a particular #$Agent AGT has the financial resources for acting in this ROLE in normal instances of SIT-TYPE. For example, we could say that Mary is #$fiscallyCapableOf being the #$buyer in a #$Buying of a Humvee (i.e., (#$BuyingFn Humvee)). However, #$fiscallyCapableOf is noncommittal as to whether Mary does or will in fact buy a Humvee.
> 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: #$QuaternaryPredicate #$FunctionalPredicate

#$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 **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> 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 AGT) means that the #$Agent AGT had some purpose in performing ENDEAVOR that was not realized. See also #$purposeInEvent.
> guid: c1560de3-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ActorSlot
> direct specialization of: #$performedBy

#$beneficiary beneficiary (binary role 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: #$BinaryRolePredicate

#$eventHonors honoree (binary role 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 (binary role predicate)

> (#$maleficiary EVENT AGENT) means that the #$Agent AGENT is harmed by the occurrence of the #$Event EVENT. That is, the interest or welfare of AGENT is thwarted, blocked, or harmed in EVENT.
> guid: bd66d33a-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$BinaryRolePredicate

#$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)); #$touches covers both direct touching and touching indirectly (i.e., through a thin layer, e.g., through clothing).
> guid: be933b9f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PartiallyCommutativeRelation #$SpatialPredicate #$Role #$TernaryPredicate

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