16 August 2026

🕸️On Graph Theory: On Semantic Network (1990-)

"[…] semantic nets fail to be distinctive in the way they (1) represent propositions, (2) cluster information for access, (3) handle property inheritance, and (4) handle general inference; in other words, they lack distinctive representational properties (i.e., 1) and distinctive computational properties (i.e., 2-4). Certain propagation mechanisms, notably 'spreading activation', 'intersection search', or 'inference propagation' have sometimes been regarded as earmarks of semantic nets, but since most extant semantic nets lack such mechanisms, they cannot be considered criterial in current usage." (Lenhart K Schubert, "Semantic Nets are in the Eye of the Beholder", 1990)

"[…] the representational and computational strategies employed in semantic net systems are abstractly equivalent to those employed in virtually all state-of-the-art systems incorporating a substantial propositional knowledge base, whether they are described as logic-based, frame-based, rule-based, or some-thing else." (Lenhart K Schubert, "Semantic Nets are in the Eye of the Beholder", 1990)

"A semantic network or net represents knowledge as a net-like graph. An idea, event, situation or object almost always has a composite structure; this is represented in a semantic network by a corresponding structure of nodes (drawn as circles or boxes) representing conceptual units, and directed links (drawn as arrows between the nodes) representing the relations between the units. […] An abstract (graph-theoretic) network can be diagrammed, defined mathematically, programmed in a computer, or hard-wired electronically. It becomes semantic when you assign a meaning to each node and link. Unlike specialized networks and diagrams, semantic networks aim to represent any kind of knowledge which can be described in natural language. A semantic network system includes not only the explicitly stored net structure but also methods for automatically deriving from that a much larger structure or body of implied knowledge." (Fritz Lehman, "Semantic Networks",  Computers & Mathematics with Applications Vol. 23 (2-5), 1992)

"The essential idea of semantic networks is that the graph-theoretic structure of relations and. abstractions can be used for inference as well as understanding. […] A semantic network is a discrete structure as is any linguistic description. Representation of the continuous 'outside world' with such a structure is necessarily incomplete, and requires decisions as to which information is kept and which is lost." (Fritz Lehman, "Semantic Networks",  Computers & Mathematics with Applications Vol. 23 (2-5), 1992)

"The great organizing principle of thought is abstraction. By assigning particular things to abstract categories we are able to dispense with irrelevant detail and yet instantly draw copious conclusions about a thing due to its membership in various categories. Semantic networks specify the structure of interrelated abstract categories and use this structure to draw conclusions." (Fritz Lehman, "Semantic Networks",  Computers & Mathematics with Applications Vol. 23 (2-5), 1992)

"Conceptual graphs are system of logic based on the existential graphs of Charles Sanders Peirce and the semantic networks of artificial intelligence. The purpose of the system is to express meaning in a form that is logically precise, humanly readable, and computationally tractable. With their direct mapping to language, conceptual graphs can serve as an intermediate language for translating computer-oriented formalisms to and from natural languages. With their graphic representation, they can serve as a readable, but design and specification language." (John F Sowa, "Conceptual graphs for knowledge representation", 1993) 

"A knowledge modeling approach based on semantic networks and first-order logic, first introduced by Sowa, whereby knowledge is represented by concepts and relations linked together in a bipartite graph." (Harry S Delugach, "Formal Analysis of Workflows in Software Development", 2009

"Conceptual graphs consist of a formal language to access knowledge and meaning. A conceptual graph is a graph or network of two kinds of nodes, concepts and relations. They have the full power of first-order logic and can represent model and higher-order logic. Conceptual graphs have a direct translation into natural language." (Ivan Launders, "Socio-Technical Systems and Knowledge Representation", 2009)

"Conceptual graphs (CGs) and fuzzy logic are two logical formalisms that emphasize the target of natural language, each of which is focused on one of the two mentioned desired features of a logic for handling natural language. Conceptual graphs, based on semantic networks and Peirce's existential graphs, combine the visual advantage of graphical languages and the expressive power of logic." (Tru H Cao, "Conceptual Graphs and Fuzzy Logic: A Fusion for Representing and Reasoning with Linguistic Information", 2010) 

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🕸️On Graph Theory: On Semantic Network (1990-)

"[…] semantic nets fail to be distinctive in the way they (1) represent propositions, (2) cluster information for access, (3) handle pr...