Models for situations

In this section we will discuss how to model situations. We want to be able to talk about situations, and validate, whether propositions about them are true, or if certain infons obtain in situations. Therefore we try to express knowledge about situations using some mathematical structure. Because situations are described by sets of infons, we will use sets to model situations. However, situations possess certain features that are hard to model in classical set theory. Especially inherently circular situations require close attention. Therefore, we will first introduce an alternative set theory, one with the axiom of foundation replaced. Then we will see how we can model situations using this set theory.

The models constructed for situations here can be used for situoids as well. However, we believe that other means of modelling situoids are better. For example, there may be concurrent processes in situoids, or parallel processes that have a certain temporal extension. The temporal extension of these processes should be reflected in the model of situoids. Therefore, some graphical representation should be considered.