Deliberation Ontology
language en

Deliberation Ontology

Release: 2025-03-03

Modified on: 2026-07-23
Revision:
1.1.0
Authors:
Simone Vagnoni
Download serialization:
JSON-LD RDF/XML N-Triples TTL
License:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as:
Simone Vagnoni. Deliberation Ontology. Revision: 1.1.0.
Provenance of this page
Ontology Specification Draft

Deliberation Ontology: Overview back to ToC

This ontology has the following classes and properties.

Classes

Object Properties

Data Properties

Deliberation Ontology: Description back to ToC

A comprehensive model for representing deliberative processes across different platforms and contexts.

Cross-reference for Deliberation Ontology classes, object properties and data properties back to ToC

This section provides details for each class and property defined by Deliberation Ontology.

Classes

Argumentc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Argument

A structured form of contribution with premises and conclusions.
has super-classes
Contribution c
is in domain of
attacks op, contains fallacy op, has conclusion op, has evidence op, has premise op, references op, supports op, text dp
is in range of
attacks op, has argument op, supports op

Argument Structurec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#ArgumentStructure

The formal structure of an argument, including premises and conclusions.
has sub-classes
Conclusion c, Premise c

Artificial Agentc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#ArtificialAgent

A non-human participant in a deliberation process, such as an AI system, bot, or algorithm (e.g., a moderation system, a clustering model, or a language model producing summaries). Contributions and classifications produced automatically should be attributed to an ArtificialAgent so that machine-generated content remains distinguishable from human input.
has super-classes
Participant c

Conclusionc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Conclusion

The claim that an argument aims to establish.
has super-classes
Argument Structure c
is in domain of
text dp
is in range of
has conclusion op

Consensusc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Consensus

Agreement reached through deliberation.

Contributionc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Contribution

Any input provided by a participant in a deliberation.
has sub-classes
Argument c, Reaction c
is in domain of
agree count dp, author op, disagree count dp, is part of op, made by op, references op, response to op, text dp, timestamp dp
is in range of
has contribution op, response to op

Cross Platform Identifierc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#CrossPlatformIdentifier

Mechanisms to link entities across different deliberation platforms.
is in domain of
platform identifier dp

Deliberation Processc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#DeliberationProcess

The overall deliberative activity, including its stages, timeline, and outcomes.
is in domain of
end date dp, has argument op, has contribution op, has participant op, has stage op, has topic op, start date dp, takes place in op
is in range of
is part of op

Evidencec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Evidence

Supporting information for claims made in arguments.
is in range of
has evidence op

Facilitatorc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Facilitator

The role of hosting, guiding, or moderating a deliberation process. A facilitating entity (an individual, an organization acting as a participant, or an ArtificialAgent) is modeled as a Participant with hasRole pointing to a Facilitator role.
has super-classes
Role c

Fallacy Typec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#FallacyType

Classification of logical fallacies that can occur in arguments.
is in range of
contains fallacy op

Forumc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Forum

A physical or virtual space where deliberations take place (e.g., digital platform, parliament chamber, court, public square).
is in range of
takes place in op

Information Resourcec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#InformationResource

External sources of information referenced in deliberations.
has sub-classes
Legal Source c
is in domain of
url dp
is in range of
references op

Legal Sourcec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#LegalSource

Legal documents, frameworks, or interpretations relevant to deliberations.
has super-classes
Information Resource c

Organizationc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Organization

Formal entities represented in or responsible for deliberations.
is in range of
is affiliated with op

Participantc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Participant

Individuals or entities taking part in a deliberation process.
has sub-classes
Artificial Agent c
is in domain of
country dp, has role op, is affiliated with op, participant type dp
is in range of
author op, has participant op, made by op

Positionc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Position

A stance or viewpoint on an issue under deliberation.
is in domain of
text dp
is in range of
attacks op, supports op

Premisec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Premise

A statement that provides support for a conclusion in an argument.
has super-classes
Argument Structure c
is in domain of
has evidence op, text dp
is in range of
has premise op

Reactionc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Reaction

A lightweight evaluative contribution made in response to another contribution, such as a vote, rating, or endorsement. The target is expressed with responseTo; the kind and strength of the reaction with reactionType and reactionValue.
has super-classes
Contribution c
is in domain of
reaction type dp, reaction value dp

Rolec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Role

The function or position a participant holds in a deliberation.
has sub-classes
Facilitator c
is in range of
has role op

Stagec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Stage

A distinct phase in a deliberation process with specific activities and goals.
is in domain of
end date dp, start date dp
is in range of
has stage op

Topicc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#Topic

The subject matter of a deliberation.
is in range of
has topic op

Object Properties

attacksop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#attacks

Indicates that an argument attacks another argument or position.
has domain
Argument c
has range
Argument c or Position c

authorop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#author

Alias of madeBy, retained for compatibility with data already published in the Deliberation Knowledge Graph. New data should prefer madeBy.
has equivalent properties
made by op
has domain
Contribution c
has range
Participant c

contains fallacyop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#containsFallacy

Indicates that an argument contains a specific type of logical fallacy.
has domain
Argument c
has range
Fallacy Type c

has argumentop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasArgument

Relates a deliberation process to arguments made within it.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Argument c

has conclusionop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasConclusion

Relates an argument to its conclusion.
has domain
Argument c
has range
Conclusion c

has contributionop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasContribution

Relates a deliberation process to contributions made within it.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Contribution c
is inverse of
is part of op

has evidenceop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasEvidence

Relates an argument or premise to supporting evidence.
has domain
Argument c or Premise c
has range
Evidence c

has participantop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasParticipant

Relates a deliberation process to its participants.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Participant c

has premiseop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasPremise

Relates an argument to its premises.
has domain
Argument c
has range
Premise c

has roleop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasRole

Relates a participant to their role in a deliberation.
has domain
Participant c
has range
Role c

has stageop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasStage

Relates a deliberation process to its stages.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Stage c

has topicop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#hasTopic

Relates a deliberation process to its topic.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Topic c

is affiliated withop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#isAffiliatedWith

Relates a participant to organizations they are affiliated with.
has domain
Participant c
has range
Organization c

is part ofop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#isPartOf

Relates a contribution to the deliberation process it belongs to. Inverse of hasContribution.
has domain
Contribution c
has range
Deliberation Process c
is inverse of
has contribution op

made byop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#madeBy

Relates a contribution to the participant who made it.
has equivalent properties
author op
has domain
Contribution c
has range
Participant c

referencesop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#references

Relates a contribution or argument to information resources it references.
has domain
Argument c or Contribution c
has range
Information Resource c

response toop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#responseTo

Relates a contribution to another contribution it responds to.
has domain
Contribution c
has range
Contribution c

supportsop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#supports

Indicates that an argument supports another argument or position.
has domain
Argument c
has range
Argument c or Position c

takes place inop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#takesPlaceIn

Relates a deliberation process to the forum where it takes place.
has domain
Deliberation Process c
has range
Forum c

Data Properties

agree countdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#agreeCount

The aggregate number of agreeing reactions to a contribution, as published by the source platform. Use Reaction instances when individual-level reactions are available.
has domain
Contribution c
has range
integer

countrydp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#country

The country of origin of a participant (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code).
has domain
Participant c
has range
string

disagree countdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#disagreeCount

The aggregate number of disagreeing reactions to a contribution, as published by the source platform. Use Reaction instances when individual-level reactions are available.
has domain
Contribution c
has range
integer

end datedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#endDate

The end date and time of a deliberation process or stage.
has domain
Deliberation Process c or Stage c
has range
date Time

identifierdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#identifier

A unique identifier for an entity.
has sub-properties
platform identifier dp
has range
string

namedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#name

The name of an entity.
has range
string

participant typedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#participantType

The type or status of participant (e.g., EU_CITIZEN, NON_EU_CITIZEN, COMPANY, NGO, PUBLIC_AUTHORITY, ACADEMIC_RESEARCH_INSTITUTION).
has domain
Participant c
has range
string

platform identifierdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#platformIdentifier

An identifier specific to a particular platform.
has super-properties
identifier dp
has domain
Cross Platform Identifier c
has range
string

reaction typedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#reactionType

The kind of reaction (e.g., AGREE, DISAGREE, NEUTRAL, SCORE, QUADRATIC_VOTE).
has domain
Reaction c
has range
string

reaction valuedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#reactionValue

The numeric strength of a reaction, where applicable (e.g., a score, or the level of a quadratic vote).
has domain
Reaction c
has range
decimal

start datedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#startDate

The start date and time of a deliberation process or stage.
has domain
Deliberation Process c or Stage c
has range
date Time

textdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#text

The textual content of a contribution, argument, position, premise, or conclusion.
has domain
Argument c or Conclusion c or Contribution c or Position c or Premise c
has range
string

timestampdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#timestamp

The date and time when a contribution was made.
has domain
Contribution c
has range
date Time

urldp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://w3id.org/deliberation/ontology#url

The URL of an information resource.
has domain
Information Resource c
has range
any U R I

Legend back to ToC

c: Classes
op: Object Properties
dp: Data Properties

Acknowledgments back to ToC

The authors would like to thank Silvio Peroni for developing LODE, a Live OWL Documentation Environment, which is used for representing the Cross Referencing Section of this document and Daniel Garijo for developing Widoco, the program used to create the template used in this documentation.