Epistemic Module — Knowledge Gating
Disclosure constraints, permissions, and epistemic governance
Governance Layer module. Optional module for modeling epistemic constraints and disclosure permissions — knowledge gating in sovereignty-aware archives. Enables archives to express conditions under which knowledge may be disclosed, withheld, transformed, or restricted without encoding the restricted knowledge itself. Distinct from iroko:accessLevel (who may access) — epistemic constraints govern the conditions and basis of disclosure. Commonly paired with iroko-authority.
A SKOS concept describing the basis for an epistemic constraint: initiation, lineage, community mandate, ritual condition, safety, or unknown.
An epistemic constraint asserting that disclosure is permitted under specified conditions. The conditions may be temporal, initiatory, lineage-bound, or community-mandated.
An epistemic constraint asserting that disclosure is restricted, limited, or prohibited under specified conditions.
A constraint describing conditions under which knowledge may be disclosed, withheld, transformed, or restricted. The abstract superclass — use DisclosurePermission, DisclosureRestriction, or SanctionedDisclosure for typed instances. iroko:hasTemporalVariation (Core) may be applied to qualify constraints that vary by season, cycle, or ritual state.
An epistemic constraint asserting that disclosure is permitted only when explicitly sanctioned by a recognized authority or mandate. Combines permission with a required authorization step.
| Property | Type | Domain → Range | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| constraintCondition constraint condition |
Datatype | Epistemic Constraint → langString | Community Only | Explicit condition statement for this constraint. May reference initiation levels, temporal variation, community mandate, or ritual state. Complements iroko:hasTemporalVariation for non-temporal conditions. |
| constraintNote constraint note |
Datatype | Epistemic Constraint → langString | Community Only | Free-text description of the epistemic constraint — what it restricts or permits and why. |
| constraintSanctionedBy constraint sanctioned by |
Object | Sanctioned Disclosure → RitualAuthority | Public | Links a SanctionedDisclosure to the iroko:Authority that must sanction the disclosure. |
| hasConstraintBasis has constraint basis |
Object | Epistemic Constraint → Constraint Basis | Public | Associates an EpistemicConstraint with a ConstraintBasis concept classifying its foundation. |
| hasEpistemicConstraint has epistemic constraint |
Object | — → Epistemic Constraint | Public | Associates a record, assertion, access policy, or any resource with an EpistemicConstraint. The constraint governs what may be known about the resource, not merely who may access it — these are related but distinct. |
Controlled terms describing the foundation for epistemic constraints on sacred knowledge.
Constraint basis asserted as a community mandate or collective governance decision.
Constraint basis asserted as a tradition-specific gender regime governing access. These are culturally defined and may be contested — model with iroko:contestedStatus where appropriate.
Gender-based constraints vary significantly across lineages and are often the subject of active debate. Record the constraint as asserted; use iroko:contestedStatus and iroko:assertionStatus to represent disputed cases.
Constraint basis asserted as initiation level or initiatory boundary. Knowledge may not cross to the uninitiated.
Constraint basis asserted as lineage affiliation. Knowledge belongs to a specific transmission line.
Constraint basis asserted as a ritual state or condition — mourning period, ritual preparation, post-initiation obligation, etc.
Constraint basis asserted as safety or harm prevention — knowledge that could cause spiritual, physical, or social harm if disclosed.
Constraint basis asserted as time-bound — a festival period, mourning cycle, ritual season, or other temporal regime. Use with iroko:hasTemporalVariation for structured modeling.
Constraint basis not known or not recorded.