We need to discuss the relationship: Revisiting relationships as modeling constructs

In this paper we propose a novel ontological analysis of relations and relationships based on a re-visitation of a classic problem in the practice of conceptual modeling, namely relationship reification. Despite the two terms 'relation' and 'relationship' are often used interchangeably, we shall assume a radical difference between the two: a relation holds, while a relationship exists. Indeed, the relation holds because the relationship exists. We investigate the ontological the nature of relationships as truthmakers, proposing a view according to which they are endurants. Under this view, not only a relationship is responsible (with its existence) of the fact that a relation holds, but it also accounts (with its properties) of the way a relation holds and develops in time.

Publication type: 
Contributo in atti di convegno
Author or Creator: 
Guarino N.
Guizzardi G.
Publisher: 
Springer, Berlin , Germania
Source: 
Advanced Information Systems Engineering, 27th International Conference, CAISE 2015, pp. 279–294, Stockholm, 8-12/6/2015
Date: 
2015
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/343289
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19069-3_18
info:doi:10.1007/978-3-319-19069-3_18
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84937485387&partnerID=q2rCbXpz
Language: 
Eng
ISTC Author: 
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