Ontology (Philosophy)

Overview

Ontology is the philosophical study of being. Generally things are split into two broad categories: abstract and concrete things. These words are "terms of art" and their definition is not standardized in any way.

Commitments

An ontological commitment of a language is one or more objects postulated to exist by that language.

A statement does not necessarily indicate any ontological commitment to an object. Oftentimes it is understood that the statement is meant to be paraphrased in a manner consistent with the speaker's philosophy.