Ontology and Ontologies in Information Systems Analysis and Design: A Critique

Abstract

Ontology and the concept of ontologies have attracted considerable attention in the context of research on information systems analysis and design.Being rooted in philosophy, both ontology and the concept of ontologies bear their own history of philosophical debates which have quite often been ignored when applied in the field of information systems.In this contribution it is claimed that a more comprehensive discussion of well-known philosophical issues of ontology and ontologies will help us not only to understand the scope of their applicability in the context of information systems analysis and design.It will also provide us with insights about limitations as well as with directions for issues in need of further research.The argument is critical yet affirmative.It aims at the expansion of the scope of current discourses and focuses especially on socio-philosophical aspects that need to be addressed in order to leverage the full potential of using ontology and ontologies for the provision of a theoretical foundation for information systems analysis and design..