Ontology of Events

Theories

  • phenomena that have happened
  • phenomena that are scheduled to happen

Moens & Steedman

  • Events have beginning and end points
    • (what about ongoing events?)
  • Events are punctual or extended in time
  • Event types:
    • Culmination: instantaneous, introduces a transition from one state to another
      • Example: Harry reached the top. Harry has reached the top.
    • Point: an indivisible whole
      • Example: John hiccupped.
    • Process: has no culmination
      • Example: Harry climbed.
        • but couldn't there be an implication that he climbed to somewhere
    • CulminatedProcess: a process that has a culmination
      • Example: Harry climbed to the top.
    • States: indefinitely extending states of affairs

References