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Entity

The foundational concept of existence ; what exists, can be identified, and can participate in semantic assertions.

Semantic Identity

semantic_id: wsf:Entity
preferred_name: Entity
status: Baseline
version: 0.1.0
defined_by: ADR-WSF-17 (Foundational Semantic Architecture)
classification: Foundational
domain: Existence

Definition

An Entity is a distinguishable existent that can be identified and about which semantic assertions may be made.

Entity is not synonymous with:

  • Physical object
  • Database record
  • Thing
  • Individual

Entity is more general than any of these. It includes:

  • Physical objects (a chair, a person)
  • Organizations (OTCHERE Inc)
  • Software systems (OTCHERE DC-01)
  • Conceptual entities (a role, a concept)
  • Events (when viewed as identifiable occurrences)
  • Documents (when viewed as identifiable artifacts)

Key Distinctions

Concept Relationship to Entity
Entity This concept ; what exists
Concept A semantic category, NOT an entity
Identity The persistent identifier of an entity
Identifier A concrete representation of identity
Event Something that happens, can be an entity when viewed as identifiable
State A condition, NOT itself an entity

Canonical Example

- entity:
    semantic_id: wsf-ex:OTCHERE-Inc
    preferred_name: OTCHERE Inc
    classification: Organization
    identity: wsf-id:OTCHERE-Inc-stable-id
    type: Organization
    state: Active
    context:
      domain: Enterprise
      jurisdiction: ...
    relationships:
      has_part: [Kwesi]
      operates: [OTCHERE-DC-01]
      possesses: [OrderManagementCapability]
    provenance:
      source: OTCHERE Inc Articles of Incorporation
      asserted_by: Architecture Team
      asserted_at: 2026-08-29

KWESI (Individual)

- entity:
    semantic_id: wsf-ex:Kwesi
    preferred_name: Kwesi
    classification: Person
    identity: wsf-id:Kwesi-stable-id
    type: Person
    role:
      - Enterprise Architect
      - Capability Owner
    relationships:
      works_for: [OTCHERE Inc]
    provenance:
      source: HR System
      asserted_by: OTCHERE Inc HR

Relationships

Entity participates in

  • is_identified_by → Identity
  • has_state → State (temporal)
  • undergoes → Event (temporal)
  • possesses → Disposition / Capability
  • occupies → Role
  • participates_in → Relationship
  • located_in → Spatial Region

Properties

  • Identity: Stable persistent identifier
  • Type: Classification (Organization, Person, System, Resource, etc.)
  • State: Current condition (temporal)
  • Context: Conditions of interpretation
  • Relationships: Connections to other entities and concepts
  • Provenance: Source/authority of assertions about this entity

Constraints

  • An Entity MUST have a stable identity (per Principle 4 : Identity Separation)
  • An Entity's identity SHOULD be preserved through versioning
  • An Entity's state MUST be qualified temporally
  • An Entity's assertions MUST have provenance

Specialization Patterns

WSF Entity
    │
    ├── Organization      (e.g., OTCHERE Inc)
    ├── Person            (e.g., Kwesi)
    ├── System            (e.g., OTCHERE DC-01)
    ├── Resource          (contextual role)
    ├── Service           (provision construct)
    ├── Document          (information carrier)
    ├── Event             (when viewed as identifiable occurrence)
    └── ...

Specialization must preserve Entity semantics (per ADR-WSF-04 ; Semantic Inheritance).

Canonical Distinction: Entity ≠ Concept

Entity:    OTCHERE Inc     (this company exists)
Concept:   Enterprise       (semantic category for classification)

Entity:    OTCHERE DC-01   (this data center exists)
Concept:   DataCenter       (semantic category)

An Entity is classified by a Concept. The Entity IS; the Concept CATEGORIZES.

Related Concepts

  • Identity (wsf:Identity) : Persistent identifier of an Entity
  • Concept (wsf:Concept) : Semantic category
  • State (wsf:State) : Current condition
  • Event (wsf:Event) : Occurrence involving an Entity
  • Role (wsf:Role) : Contextual participation
  • Disposition (wsf:Disposition) : Potential of an Entity

Cross-References

  • ADR-WSF-17: Foundational Semantic Architecture (parent)
  • Investigation 7: Existence-Occurrence (refined Entity semantics)
  • Investigation 2: Semantic Representation (Entity ≠ Concept)
  • Investigation 4: Ontological Classification (Entity classification)
  • ADR-WSF-08: Foundational Concept Relationships
  • ADR-WSF-09: Foundational Concept Taxonomy

Entity is a Tier 1 foundational concept. Status: Baseline.