We are using this term to describe an approach to ontology that endeavors to bring all facets of the subject together in one place, guided by a common set of principles and methods.

The basic design proposes that ideas or concepts can be organized along a hierarchy of abstraction, with broader more general concepts at the top of the cascade, and more specific or concrete concepts at the bottom.

Integral ontology is intended to include

• Semantics
• Epistemology
• Foundations of mathematics
• Cognitive psychology and the theory of concepts

We are developing an approach to compositional semantics that affirms that all concepts can be understood as "data structures" and can be constructed from atomic-level units like bits or distinctions. Concepts, understood in this way, are cascades of nested distinctions that can be precisely defined in dimensional values.

This cascade may be defined across levels of abstraction, such that its top level is defined in general/abstract terms, and its lowest level is defined in specific terms.

The "meaning of a word" -- and the intention behind it -- is defined by this cascaded nesting across levels of abstraction. The speaker uses an abstract or general term for brevity and convenience (a function of psychological economy), while the nested implications remain unspecified.

The specifics of this nesting may or may not be explicitly defined. If it is implicit and undefined, the interpretation of the term or word or concept can become ambiguous. Or the meaning may become explicit and stipulated in particular, perhaps through a process of negotiation and refinement.

Wed, Jul 24, 2019