Adding the Power-Set to Description Logics

Abstract: We explore the relationships between Description Logics and Set Theory. The study is carried on using, on the set-theoretic side, a very rudimentary axiomatic set theory Omega, consisting of only four axioms characterizing binary union, set difference, inclusion, and the power-set. An extension of ALC, ALC^Omega, is then defined in which concepts are naturally interpreted as sets living in Omega-models. In ALC^Omega not only membership between concepts is allowed---even admitting circularity---but also the power-set construct is exploited to add metamodeling capabilities. We investigate translations of ALC^Omega into standard description logics as well as a set-theoretic translation. A polynomial encoding of ALC^Omega in ALCIO proves the validity of the finite model property as well as an ExpTime upper bound on the complexity of concept satisfiability. We develop a set-theoretic translation of ALC^Omega in the theory Omega, exploiting a technique originally proposed for translating normal modal and polymodal logics into Omega. Finally, we show that the fragment LC^Omega of ALC^Omega, which does not admit roles and individual names, is as expressive as ALC^Omega.