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Formal methods in knowledge engineering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2009

Frank van Harmelen  and
Dieter Fensel
Frank van Harmelen
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, AI Group, De Boelelaan 1080a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands (email: frankh@cs.vu.nl)
Dieter Fensel
Affiliation:
SWI, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018MT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

This paper presents a general discussion of the role of formal methods in knowledge engineering. We give an historical account of the development of the field of knowledge engineering towards the use of formal methods. Subsequently, we discuss the pros and cons of formal methods. We do this by summarising the proclaimed advantages, and by arguing against some of the commonly heard objections against formal methods. We briefly summarise the current state of the art and discuss the most important directions that future research in this field should take. This paper presents a general setting for the other contributions in this issue of the journal, which each deal with a specific issue in more detail.

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Type
Research Article
Information
The Knowledge Engineering Review , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 345 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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