# -*- coding: utf-8 -*- # ========================================================================== # Iroko Framework — Epistemic Module v1.3.0 # ========================================================================== # Namespace: https://ontology.irokosociety.org/iroko# # Prefix: ep: # Requires: iroko-core v1.3.0 # # Optional module for modeling epistemic constraints and disclosure # permissions — "knowledge gating" in sovereignty-aware archives. # Governs when, to whom, and under what conditions knowledge may be # disclosed, withheld, transformed, or restricted. # # This module does NOT encode ritual instructions. It encodes governance # claims about who may access what knowledge under what conditions. # # NOTE: iroko:hasTemporalVariation is defined in Core and applies # to iroko:EpistemicConstraint instances without redefinition here. # ========================================================================== @prefix rdf: . @prefix rdfs: . @prefix owl: . @prefix xsd: . @prefix skos: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix iroko: . a owl:Ontology ; dcterms:title "Iroko Framework: Epistemic Module"@en ; dcterms:description "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."@en ; dcterms:creator "Iroko Historical Society" ; dcterms:issued "2026-02-23"^^xsd:date ; dcterms:modified "2026-02-25"^^xsd:date ; owl:versionInfo "1.3.0" ; owl:versionIRI ; dcterms:license ; dcterms:isPartOf ; dcterms:requires ; dcterms:references ; rdfs:seeAlso . # =========================================================================== # CLASSES # =========================================================================== iroko:EpistemicConstraint a owl:Class ; rdfs:label "Epistemic Constraint"@en ; rdfs:comment "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."@en ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:DisclosurePermission a owl:Class ; rdfs:subClassOf iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:label "Disclosure Permission"@en ; rdfs:comment "An epistemic constraint asserting that disclosure is permitted under specified conditions. The conditions may be temporal, initiatory, lineage-bound, or community-mandated."@en ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:DisclosureRestriction a owl:Class ; rdfs:subClassOf iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:label "Disclosure Restriction"@en ; rdfs:comment "An epistemic constraint asserting that disclosure is restricted, limited, or prohibited under specified conditions."@en ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:SanctionedDisclosure a owl:Class ; rdfs:subClassOf iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:label "Sanctioned Disclosure"@en ; rdfs:comment "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."@en ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:ConstraintBasis a owl:Class ; rdfs:subClassOf skos:Concept ; rdfs:label "Constraint Basis"@en ; rdfs:comment "A SKOS concept describing the basis for an epistemic constraint: initiation, lineage, community mandate, ritual condition, safety, or unknown."@en ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . # =========================================================================== # PROPERTIES # =========================================================================== iroko:hasEpistemicConstraint a owl:ObjectProperty ; rdfs:label "has epistemic constraint"@en ; rdfs:comment "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."@en ; rdfs:range iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; iroko:minimumAccessLevel iroko:access-public-unrestricted ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:hasConstraintBasis a owl:ObjectProperty ; rdfs:label "has constraint basis"@en ; rdfs:comment "Associates an EpistemicConstraint with a ConstraintBasis concept classifying its foundation."@en ; rdfs:domain iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:range iroko:ConstraintBasis ; iroko:minimumAccessLevel iroko:access-public-unrestricted ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:constraintSanctionedBy a owl:ObjectProperty ; rdfs:label "constraint sanctioned by"@en ; rdfs:comment "Links a SanctionedDisclosure to the iroko:Authority that must sanction the disclosure."@en ; rdfs:domain iroko:SanctionedDisclosure ; rdfs:range iroko:RitualAuthority ; iroko:minimumAccessLevel iroko:access-public-unrestricted ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:constraintNote a owl:DatatypeProperty ; rdfs:label "constraint note"@en ; rdfs:comment "Free-text description of the epistemic constraint — what it restricts or permits and why."@en ; rdfs:domain iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:range rdf:langString ; iroko:minimumAccessLevel iroko:access-community-only ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . iroko:constraintCondition a owl:DatatypeProperty ; rdfs:label "constraint condition"@en ; rdfs:comment "Explicit condition statement for this constraint. May reference initiation levels, temporal variation, community mandate, or ritual state. Complements iroko:hasTemporalVariation for non-temporal conditions."@en ; rdfs:domain iroko:EpistemicConstraint ; rdfs:range rdf:langString ; iroko:minimumAccessLevel iroko:access-community-only ; rdfs:isDefinedBy . # NOTE: Use iroko:hasTemporalVariation (Core) on EpistemicConstraint # instances to qualify seasonal or cycle-bound variations: # iroko:hasTemporalVariation . # =========================================================================== # CONCEPT SCHEME: Constraint Basis # =========================================================================== iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme a skos:ConceptScheme ; rdfs:label "Constraint Bases"@en ; dcterms:description "Controlled terms describing the foundation for epistemic constraints on sacred knowledge."@en ; skos:hasTopConcept iroko:basis-initiation, iroko:basis-lineage, iroko:basis-gender-regime, iroko:basis-community-mandate, iroko:basis-ritual-condition, iroko:basis-safety, iroko:basis-temporal, iroko:basis-unknown . iroko:basis-initiation a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Initiation"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as initiation level or initiatory boundary. Knowledge may not cross to the uninitiated."@en . iroko:basis-lineage a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Lineage"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as lineage affiliation. Knowledge belongs to a specific transmission line."@en . iroko:basis-gender-regime a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Gender Regime"@en ; skos:definition "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."@en ; skos:scopeNote "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."@en . iroko:basis-community-mandate a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Community Mandate"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as a community mandate or collective governance decision."@en . iroko:basis-ritual-condition a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Ritual Condition"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as a ritual state or condition — mourning period, ritual preparation, post-initiation obligation, etc."@en . iroko:basis-safety a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Safety"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as safety or harm prevention — knowledge that could cause spiritual, physical, or social harm if disclosed."@en . iroko:basis-temporal a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Temporal"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis asserted as time-bound — a festival period, mourning cycle, ritual season, or other temporal regime. Use with iroko:hasTemporalVariation for structured modeling."@en . iroko:basis-unknown a iroko:ConstraintBasis ; skos:inScheme iroko:ConstraintBasisScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Unknown"@en ; skos:definition "Constraint basis not known or not recorded."@en .