A domain ontology organized in concentric rings with 114 term files. Ring 0 is the universal kernel -- 14 terms that model Existence at the broadest scope. Ring 1 bridges the kernel to software engineering via Domain-Driven Design concepts. Ring 2 extends the ontology with 85 additional terms covering philosophy, spirituality, cognition, and other domains.
Terms are defined as interconnected nodes in src/. Each node follows the structure in SPEC.md: Ontology (what it is), Axiology (why it matters), Epistemology (how we know it).
Ring 0 (kernel) -- 14 universal terms, always loaded
Ring 1 (software) -- 17 terms bridging to DDD and software domains (2 pending)
Ring 2 (extended) -- 85 terms across philosophy, spirituality, cognition, and more
Rings are additive. Ring 1 assumes Ring 0. Higher rings assume all lower rings. See existence.toml for the canonical ring definitions. (The existence CLI reads this file.)
The existential scope. These terms apply universally across all domains.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| existence | Everything that 'is', or more simply, everything. A scoped Existence represents an Entity's perspective on Existence. |
| entity | Any information in Existence. Entities can be abstractions, concepts, persons, systems, objects, collectives, or Existence itself. |
| abstraction | A concept that models something else, allowing expression without its complexity and ambiguity. A word or phrase is an abstraction. |
| scope | The breadth, depth, or reach of an Entity; a domain. |
| context | Context adds scope to abstractions. Limits the amount of information needed to create a coherent system. |
| resolution | The detail and scope of the perspective. Detail is increased with evolution. |
| pattern | The elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable or regular manner. |
| system | A collection of organized things; a whole composed of relationships among its members. |
| domain | The system of interest within an entity. A domain has a language that refers to its field and actions. |
| focus | Selectively concentrating on one system of Existence while ignoring other things. |
| perspective | The relations that an Entity has to the containing entity (Existence is the assumed context). |
| consciousness | The Entity's ability to interpret relevant signals, or the ability of being present within an Entity. |
| evolution | The altering of an Entity or lineage of Entities as a learned response to the environment. |
| story | A sequence of events; or, an account of such a sequence. Stories hold state that can be used for context. |
Existence -> Entity -> System -> Domain -> Scope -> Context -> Resolution -> Focus
The DDD bridge -- immediately useful for software projects. These terms extend Ring 0 into the software engineering domain.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| project | A scoped endeavor within a domain to achieve a specific outcome. A system with temporal boundaries. |
| model | An entity used to exemplify or simulate the workings of the subject system. |
| algorithm | A precise step-by-step plan for a procedure that possibly begins with an input value and yields an output value in a finite number of steps. |
| state | The condition of the Entity and its members. |
| type | A grouping based on shared characteristics; a class. In type theory, every term has a type. |
| definition | A statement of the meaning of an Abstraction. |
| information | That which can distinguish one thing from another. An Entity. |
| signal | Useful information, as opposed to noise. A signal transmits information from one entity to another. |
| language | The system used by an entity to communicate abstractions by using signals. |
| tool | Conceptual or Physical System used to create a desired effect on another System or itself. |
| environment | The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular Entity. The Environment is also an Entity. |
| coherence | A set of one to many Entities acting in unison and agreement with themselves and each other. |
| communication | An Entity using signals and language to affect another entity. |
| collective | A group of Entities. The Collective is an entity. |
| integrity | Ability of an Entity to adhere to a chosen philosophy. Promotes trust and predictability. |
| qualitative | (pending -- not yet defined) |
| quantitative | (pending -- not yet defined) |
Broader ontological terms spanning philosophy, spirituality, cognition, linguistics, and more. These extend Ring 0 and Ring 1 into richer territory.
Click to expand Ring 2 term list
How Domain-Driven Design concepts derive from kernel and software ring terms:
| DDD Concept | Kernel Terms | How it derives |
|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous Language | language + domain | Scoped vocabulary grounded in the domain model |
| Bounded Context | scope + context | Limits information for a coherent system |
| Entity | entity | Identity-bearing object (DDD narrows kernel's broader definition) |
| Aggregate | system | A whole of relationships, internally consistent |
| Domain Event | evolution + signal | State change that triggers responses |
| Model | model | Abstraction of a domain |
| Value Object | state + type | Defined by attributes, not identity |
Each src/*.md file follows the template in SPEC.md:
| Section | Question | Maps To |
|---|---|---|
| Ontology | What IS it? | Definition, identity |
| Axiology | Why does it MATTER? | Value, purpose, significance |
| Ethics | What SHOULD we consider? | Moral implications (optional) |
| Epistemology | How do we KNOW it? | Evidence, sources, patterns |