ontoness

Ontoness is a term used in philosophy and related disciplines to denote the degree to which an entity is treated as existing within a given theoretical or descriptive framework. It is distinct from actual existence in the external world; rather, it captures the ontological commitments built into a system of thought, model, or discourse. The concept relates to ontology—the study of what exists—and aims to describe how strongly a framework presumes the presence of a thing rather than merely mentioning it.

Ontoness is commonly viewed as a spectrum. Entities with high ontoness are treated as robustly real within the framework, supported by criteria and inference. Those with low ontoness are treated as fictional, hypothetical, or placeholder concepts that carry little ontological weight. Some concepts can shift in ontoness when theoretical or empirical conditions change, such as a hypothetical particle gaining empirical support or a fictional element being reinterpreted within a narrative.

In practice, ontoness figures in ontology engineering, where developers discuss how much to commit a knowledge base to the existence of various concepts. In science and philosophy, it helps clarify debates about realism, instrumentalism, and the status of theoretical entities. In linguistics and cognitive science, it can describe how language and cognition assign reality status to referents across contexts.

Critics argue that ontoness is context-dependent and potentially vague, risking reification. Proponents contend that making ontoness explicit clarifies assumptions and improves model design and interpretation. Related concepts include ontological commitment, existence, and fictionalism.