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Last Update: 3/30/02
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#$Agreement   agreements
A collection of `objects' with temporal extent. Each instance of #$Agreement involves two or more parties, who agree that certain propositions should be true. Making the propositions true may require some action or commitment of wealth on the part of one or more of the #$agreeingAgents. Thus, instances of #$Agreement will usually involve some instances of #$Obligation. Note: Instances of #$Agreement and #$Obligation differ, however, in that an #$obligatedAgent is responsible for the truth of all of the propositions in an obligation. In an #$Agreement, some agents may not be responsible for all of the propositions in the agreement being true. For example, in a loan agreement, the borrower agrees to give the lender back the money, but the borrower is the only #$obligatedAgent for the repayment. Note that #$obligatedAgents need not be among the #$agreeingAgents in the agreement that involves or generates the obligation. For example, the Board of Directors of XYZCorporation may agree that some non-director will assume the post and duties of President of XYZCorporation. Moreover, #$agreeingAgents aren't always #$obligatedAgents; e.g., Wanda and Paul may agree that Paul alone is obligated to do some task. Examples include instances of #$PeaceAccord, #$LegalAgreement, #$InformalAgreement, #$BusinessPartnershipAgreement, #$WorkAgreement, #$SalesAgreement, #$MaintenanceAgreement, #$Reservation, #$Appointment, etc.
guid: bd58afa3-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$IntangibleExistingThing  #$Artifact-Intangible  #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory  #$PropositionalInformationThing  
direct generalization of: #$OrganizationPolicy #$SalesAgreement #$AuthorizedAgreement #$WorkAgreement #$LegalAgreement #$Permission

Predicates Describing Agreements


#$subAgreements   sub agreements
The predicate #$subAgreements relates a particular agreement to the subordinate agreements it comprises. (#$subAgreements AGR SUB) means that both AGR and SUB are instances of #$Agreement, and AGR has SUB as a sub-part.
guid: be018058-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$AsymmetricBinaryPredicate #$TransitiveBinaryPredicate #$NonPhysicalPartPredicate
#$agreeingAgents   agreeing agents
The predicate #$agreeingAgents relates a particular agreement to the agents who made, or who are making, the agreement. (#$agreeingAgents AGREE PARTY) means that the #$Agreement AGREE has the #$Agent PARTY among its agreeing parties. If an #$Agreement AGREE and an #$Agent PARTY are related via #$agreeingAgents, they may also be related by more specialized versions of #$agreeingAgents, such as #$agreeingBuyer or #$agreeingSeller, #$insuringAgent or #$policyHolder, #$employedAgent or #$employingAgent. Note that if (#$agreeingAgents AGREE PARTY) holds, the #$Agent PARTY will be mentioned in the #$Agreement AGREE.
guid: bd58dc25-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$CotemporalObjectsSlot #$InterActorSlot
direct specialization of: #$propositionalInfoAbout
#$governedByAgreement   governed by agreement
The predicate #$governedByAgreement relates an event to an agreement that stipulates something with respect to it, such as certain conditions that are to hold during the event, or whether the event should or should not occur. (#$governedByAgreement EVT AGR) means that some aspects of the instance of #$HumanActivity EVT are controlled by, or 'under the jurisdiction of', the instance of #$Agreement AGR. For example, a #$BuyingGroup may have #$SalesContracts with its #$suppliers that specify what prices may be charged for goods bought by members of the group during the agreement period. But note that an event's being governed by an agreement does not entail that the event conforms to what the agreement stipulates: an act that violates the agreement is still governed by it.
guid: c10adbcb-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ActorSlot
direct specialization of: #$preActors
#$ist-Agreement   ist - agreement
The predicate #$ist-Agreement is used to indicate the propositions which have been agreed upon in a particular agreement. (#$ist-Agreement AGR PROP) means that the proposition PROP is and should be true, according to the #$Agreement AGR. PROP is expressed as a #$ELSentence-Assertible and is considered true within the microtheory which represents AGR. PROP may or may not be true in reality. Note the distinction between #$ist and #$ist-Agreement: #$ist relates any particular microtheory to all assertions that happen to be true in that microtheory; but #$ist-Agreement specially indicates those assertions in an #$Agreement microtheory which belong to the agreement itself and are not just something that happens to be true in it (e.g., that one of the #$agreeingAgents is named Joe).
guid: bd58b89d-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryDesignatingPredicate #$MicrotheoryPredicate #$BinaryPredicate
direct specialization of: #$ist
#$agreementForbids   agreement forbids
The predicate #$agreementForbids is used to indicate a type of action that a particular agent is forbidden to play a particular role in under the terms of a particular agreement. (#$agreementForbids AGR AGENT ACT-TYPE ROLE) means that the instance of #$Agreement AGR forbids the instance of #$Agent AGENT to play the instance of #$Role ROLE in any event that is an instance of the subcollection of #$Event ACT-TYPE. For example, a peace accord #$agreementForbids any instance of #$WagingWar against other signatories to be #$performedBy any of the governments who signed it. Similarly, a business contract may forbid one agent to compete with another after s/he sells rights to a product, design, or practice to the second agent.
guid: bd58b463-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$QuaternaryPredicate
#$agreementPeriod   agreement period
The predicate #$agreementPeriod is used to indicate the period of time during which a particular agreement is in force. (#$agreementPeriod AGR TIME) means that the #$Agreement AGR holds during the #$TimeInterval TIME; i.e., TIME is the period during which the assertions made in AGR are supposed to be true. TIME may or may not begin at the moment that AGR is created; e.g., I may sign an employment contract on the very day I begin working or several weeks before, to begin on a specified future date. Or an #$agreementPeriod could begin before the agreement was made, e.g., when an agent agreed to pay disputed royalties retroactively.
guid: c10ad9c8-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$BinaryPredicate

Some Sample Kinds Of Agreements


#$Obligation   obligations
A collection of microtheories; a subcollection of #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory. Each instance of the collection #$Obligation is a microtheory which contains assertions describing what some agent (the #$obligatedAgent) is obliged to do, or make true, for one or more other agents, possibly including society in general. An obligation is the most general case of some agent owing something to another. Obligations may be undertaken in conjunction with various kinds of #$Agreements. Unlike an agreement, however, an obligation need not have a second known party (though some do). An obligation can exist and be understood without identifying another particular agent as the `holder' of the obligation -- and that may be true, even if the beneficiary (#$obligationOwedTo) can be identified. For example, assuming that parents have an obligation to care for their children, it is not clear with whom a parent has `agreed' to take care of his or her child. Some common ways to incur an obligation are through social transactions (e.g., family duties, friendship, favors) or through financial transactions (e.g., a #$PaymentObligation). In addition, obligations may be imposed on those who are subject to one or more instances of #$CodeOfConduct, e.g., #$LegalCode-ModernUnitedStates, #$SportsRulesOf-BoxingSportsEvent, #$OfficeCodeOfConductMt.
guid: bd58bfd0-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory  #$IntangibleExistingThing  
direct generalization of: #$WorkAgreement #$CodeOfConduct
#$CodeOfConduct   codes of conduct
An instance of #$MicrotheoryType, and a specialization of #$Obligation. Each instance of #$CodeOfConduct is a microtheory containing rules and/or expectations governing the behavior of those agents subject to it.
guid: bd5895c7-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryType #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$Obligation  
direct generalization of: #$FormalCOC
#$FormalCOC   formal codes of conduct
An instance of #$MicrotheoryType, and a specialization of #$CodeOfConduct. Each instance of #$FormalCOC is a code of conduct imposed by some organization. Formal codes of conduct typically are explicitly stated and publicly promulgated among the group subject to them, and they are usually associated with prescribed methods of enforcement and punishment of violators. Thus, the collection #$FormalCOC includes the laws of any legal jurisdiction, the rules of deportment imposed by educational institutions, and the practices of some strict religious sects. In contrast, informal codes of conduct are norms that are not prescribed or enforced by formal means; for example, etiquette (#$MannersCodeOfConduct) and ethics (#$EthicsCodeOfConduct).
guid: bd58af5f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryType #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$CodeOfConduct  
direct generalization of: #$GovernmentCOC
#$GovernmentCOC   governmental regulations
A collection of microtheories; a subcollection of #$FormalCOC (the set of formal codes of conduct). Each instance of #$GovernmentCOC is a formal regulation of behavior imposed upon agents -- including citizens, tourists, businesses, government entities, etc., in so far as they are subject to it -- who are located within the legal jurisdiction where that code of conduct holds. #$GovernmentCOC includes both individual laws and whole legal codes. Some examples of #$GovernmentCOC include: the Napoleonic Code, the United States Constitution and all Federal, State, and local laws of the United States, and the particular laws against stealing found in most, if not all, countries. Enforcement of a particular instance of #$GovernmentCOC is authorized by the government associated with that code and carried out by its agents within their jurisdiction(s). See also #$LegalCode and #$Law.
guid: bd58a160-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryType #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$FormalCOC  
direct generalization of: #$LegalCode
#$LegalCode   legal codes
A specialization of #$GovernmentCOC. Each instance of #$LegalCode is a microtheory for collecting all the instances of #$Law (q.v.) which hold in a given instance of #$GeopoliticalEntity. For example, #$LegalCode-ModernUnitedStates.
guid: bd65c7ba-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryType #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$GovernmentCOC  
#$laws   laws (cotemporal predicate)
The predicate #$laws is used to relate a geopolitical region (country, state, city, etc.) to a law or entire legal code which applies there. (#$laws GEOPOL CODE) means that the #$GeopoliticalEntity GEOPOL officially has the law (or set of laws) CODE. See also #$GovernmentCOC for the representation of a #$Law or a #$LegalCode as a #$Microtheory.
guid: bd64796e-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$CotemporalObjectsSlot
#$Warranty   guarantees
A specialization of #$AuthorizedAgreement. Each instance of #$Warranty is an agreement between the seller (and/or manufacturer) and the purchaser of some object or service. In a warranty, the seller/manufacturer promises that the object or service will be satisfactory in some indicated way (e.g., free of defects). Usually a warranty specifies what compensation an unsatisfied purchaser is entitled to (e.g., free repairs, a refund), and how s/he can claim it.
guid: bd589ead-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$AuthorizedAgreement  
#$SalesAgreement   sales agreements
A collection of agreements. Each instance of #$SalesAgreement is an agreement which governs aspects of some #$Buying activity. This includes bidding activities (in the subcollection #$SalesBidOrContract), as well as instances of #$SalesContract.
guid: bd5a2d9c-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$Agreement  
#$SalesBidOrContract   bids (agreements)
A collection of agreements. Each element of #$SalesBidOrContract is either a proposed or accepted agreement containing terms at which a seller will provide goods or services to a buyer.
guid: bd652630-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$SalesAgreement  
#$SalesContract   sales contracts (agreements)
A collection of agreements; a subset of #$LegalAgreement. Each element of #$SalesContract is a legal agreement between a selling agent and a buying agent, stipulating the terms under which the seller will provide goods and/or services to the buyer.
guid: be018921-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$LegalAgreement  #$SalesAgreement  
#$Proposal   proposals
The class of potential agreements or other kinds of #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory which are in the 'proposal' stage -- i.e., which are under consideration but which have not been adopted (yet). The making and consideration of #$Proposals is an important part of such activities as #$Negotiating and legislative #$Debate. Examples of #$Proposals include #$BidOnSale, job offers, proposed codes of conduct (including proposals for new #$Laws), and proposed punishments.
guid: bd646625-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of: #$SupposedToBeMicrotheory  #$PropositionalInformationThing  #$IntangibleExistingThing  
#$proposalStatus   proposal status
The predicate #$proposalStatus is used to indicate the status of a particular proposal. (#$proposalStatus PROPOS STATUS) means that the #$Proposal PROPOS has STATUS as its #$ProposalStatusAttribute (e.g., #$Acknowledged, #$AwaitingConfirmation, #$Accepted). Since the status of a proposal changes throughout the process of submission and consideration, assertions made with #$proposalStatus should be temporally qualified (e.g., using #$holdsIn).
guid: bd589ae3-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$BinaryAttributePredicate
direct specialization of: #$hasAttributes
#$OrganizationPolicy   policies (agreements)
A specialization of #$Agreement. Each instance of #$OrganizationPolicy is an agreement which contains the terms of some policy of a particular organization. Instances of #$OrganizationPolicy would include U.S. Federal government hiring policies, a policy governing a corporation's charitable or political donations, or a school dress code.
guid: bd58f5fe-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType #$MicrotheoryType
direct specialization of: #$Agreement  
#$Permission   permits (agreements)
A specialization of #$Agreement. Each instance of #$Permission is an agreement specifying some rights or privileges which have been granted to an instance of #$Agent (q.v.). A permission may be an informal agreement between individuals, but many instances are formal and involve permissions granted by a government authority to some agent. Notable specializations of #$Permission include #$License-LegalAgreement and #$Visa-Permit.
guid: bd58afda-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$Agreement  
direct generalization of: #$Visa-Permit
#$LegalAgreement   legal agreements
An instance of #$ExistingObjectType, and a specialization of #$Agreement. Each instance of #$LegalAgreement is an agreement which has a legal status; that is, it is recognized as a valid agreement by some government. Notable specializations of #$LegalAgreement include #$SalesContract, #$Visa-Permit, and #$Account.
guid: bd58b05e-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
direct specialization of: #$Agreement  
direct generalization of: #$Account #$Visa-Permit
#$Account   accounts (agreements)
A collection of objects; a subcollection of #$LegalAgreement. Each instance of #$Account is a recorded obligation (of some particular type) between specified parties, consisting of `funds' which typically can be added to and drawn upon. Examples include instances of #$RetirementAccount, #$TravelExpenseAccount, and of the many types of #$FinancialAccount . Note that the contents of an account need not be monetary; for example, the contents may be amounts of time, as in the subcollections #$VacationAccount or #$SickLeaveAccount. #$Account does NOT include debt obligations of fixed face value that cannot be increased or reduced (such as a bond).
guid: bd588c2b-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$AccountType
direct specialization of: #$AuthorizedAgreement  #$LegalAgreement  
direct generalization of: #$FinancialAccount
#$InsurancePlan   insurance (agreement)
A collection of microtheories; a subset of #$LegalAgreement. Each element of #$InsurancePlan is an agreement between two or more agents. For each such plan, there is at least one #$insuredAgent who is covered by the insurance plan, and one #$insuringAgent who is the insurance provider (e.g., HMO, insurance company, or U.S. Federal government agency). An insurance plan may be funded by (see #$insuranceFundedBy) the insured or by a third party, such as the insured's employer. Some subsets of #$InsurancePlan representing insurance for different #$insuredEventTypes are: #$LifeInsurance, #$MedicalInsurance, #$DisabilityInsurance, #$HomeOwnersInsurance, #$AutomobileInsurance, #$LiabilityInsurance.
guid: bd58e2ad-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType #$ProductType
direct specialization of: #$Account  


Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.