UVC Value Ontology Specification

Version: 1.0.0 Date: 2026-01-11 Layer: 1 (UVC - Universal Value Coding) Status: Complete

Abstract

This specification defines the Value Ontology - a structured corpus of value statements that form the semantic foundation for UVC tokens. The ontology categorizes values, defines relationships (hierarchy, tension, complement), and provides composition rules.

Introduction
Ontology Structure
Value Categories
Value Statements
Relationships
Query Interface
Data Format

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The Value Ontology provides:

Semantic Grounding: Values have defined meanings
Conflict Detection: Identify tensions between values
Composition Support: Rules for combining values
Cross-Cultural Bridge: Map between traditions

1.2 Foundations

The ontology draws from:

Moral Foundations Theory (Haidt): Care, Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, Sanctity
Schwartz Values: 10 basic human values
Virtue Ethics: Character-based values
Deontological Ethics: Duty-based values
Consequentialist Ethics: Outcome-based values

2. Ontology Structure

2.1 Hierarchy

Value Ontology
├── Categories (7)
│   ├── Values (multiple per category)
│   │   ├── Value Statements (~500 total)
│   │   │   ├── Core (always apply)
│   │   │   ├── Important (generally apply)
│   │   │   └── Contextual (situation-dependent)

2.2 Schema

{
  "$schema": "https://vcp.creed.space/schema/ontology/v1.json",
  "ontology_version": "1.0.0",
  "value_categories": [...],
  "value_statements": [...],
  "relationships": {
    "hierarchy": [...],
    "tensions": [...],
    "complements": [...]
  },
  "composition_rules": {...}
}

3. Value Categories

3.1 The Seven Categories

ID	Name	Description	Foundation
`care`	Care and Compassion	Caring for others, reducing harm	Moral Foundations
`fairness`	Fairness and Justice	Equitable treatment, rights	Moral Foundations
`autonomy`	Autonomy and Freedom	Self-determination, liberty	Liberal Ethics
`truth`	Truth and Honesty	Accuracy, transparency	Virtue Ethics
`loyalty`	Loyalty and Belonging	Group commitment, tradition	Moral Foundations
`authority`	Authority and Order	Hierarchy, social order	Moral Foundations
`sanctity`	Sanctity and Purity	Sacredness, dignity	Moral Foundations

3.2 Category Definitions

VALUE_CATEGORIES = {
    'care': {
        'name': 'Care and Compassion',
        'description': 'Values related to caring for others and reducing harm',
        'children': ['protection', 'nurturing', 'healing', 'support'],
        'traditions': ['care_ethics', 'buddhism', 'christianity'],
        'emoji': '❤️',
    },

    'fairness': {
        'name': 'Fairness and Justice',
        'description': 'Values related to equitable treatment and rights',
        'children': ['equality', 'reciprocity', 'rights', 'due_process'],
        'traditions': ['liberalism', 'egalitarianism', 'kantian'],
        'emoji': '⚖️',
    },

    'autonomy': {
        'name': 'Autonomy and Freedom',
        'description': 'Values related to self-determination and liberty',
        'children': ['consent', 'privacy', 'self_expression', 'choice'],
        'traditions': ['liberalism', 'existentialism', 'enlightenment'],
        'emoji': '🗽',
    },

    'truth': {
        'name': 'Truth and Honesty',
        'description': 'Values related to accuracy and transparency',
        'children': ['honesty', 'transparency', 'accuracy', 'authenticity'],
        'traditions': ['virtue_ethics', 'scientific_realism', 'pragmatism'],
        'emoji': '💡',
    },

    'loyalty': {
        'name': 'Loyalty and Belonging',
        'description': 'Values related to group membership and commitment',
        'children': ['fidelity', 'patriotism', 'tradition', 'community'],
        'traditions': ['communitarianism', 'confucianism', 'nationalism'],
        'emoji': '🤝',
    },

    'authority': {
        'name': 'Authority and Order',
        'description': 'Values related to hierarchy and social order',
        'children': ['respect', 'obedience', 'duty', 'discipline'],
        'traditions': ['conservatism', 'confucianism', 'military_ethics'],
        'emoji': '👑',
    },

    'sanctity': {
        'name': 'Sanctity and Purity',
        'description': 'Values related to sacredness and moral purity',
        'children': ['cleanliness', 'temperance', 'reverence', 'dignity'],
        'traditions': ['religious_ethics', 'stoicism', 'natural_law'],
        'emoji': '✨',
    },
}

4. Value Statements

4.1 Statement Structure

@dataclass
class ValueStatement:
    """A single value statement in the ontology"""

    id: str                     # Unique identifier
    statement: str              # Natural language statement
    category: str               # Category path (e.g., "care.protection")
    strength: str               # "core", "important", "contextual"
    traditions: List[str]       # Cultural/philosophical origins
    conflicts_with: List[str]   # IDs of conflicting values
    complements: List[str]      # IDs of complementary values
    contexts: List[str]         # When this applies

4.2 Core Value Statements

CORE_VALUES = [
    {
        'id': 'protect_life',
        'statement': 'Protect human life and physical safety',
        'category': 'care.protection',
        'strength': 'core',
        'traditions': ['hippocratic', 'human_rights', 'natural_law'],
        'conflicts_with': [],
        'complements': ['prevent_harm', 'support_vulnerable'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'prevent_harm',
        'statement': 'Prevent unnecessary harm to persons',
        'category': 'care.protection',
        'strength': 'core',
        'traditions': ['consequentialism', 'care_ethics'],
        'conflicts_with': [],
        'complements': ['protect_life', 'heal_injured'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'respect_autonomy',
        'statement': 'Respect individual autonomy and self-determination',
        'category': 'autonomy.consent',
        'strength': 'core',
        'traditions': ['kantian', 'liberalism'],
        'conflicts_with': ['protect_vulnerable'],  # Tension
        'complements': ['ensure_consent', 'protect_privacy'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'maintain_honesty',
        'statement': 'Communicate truthfully and avoid deception',
        'category': 'truth.honesty',
        'strength': 'core',
        'traditions': ['virtue_ethics', 'kantian'],
        'conflicts_with': ['protect_feelings'],  # Tension
        'complements': ['be_transparent', 'acknowledge_uncertainty'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'ensure_fairness',
        'statement': 'Treat individuals fairly and without discrimination',
        'category': 'fairness.equality',
        'strength': 'core',
        'traditions': ['egalitarianism', 'justice_theory'],
        'conflicts_with': [],
        'complements': ['respect_rights', 'apply_consistently'],
    },
]

4.3 Domain-Specific Values

# Child Safety (family.* domain)
CHILD_SAFETY_VALUES = [
    {
        'id': 'child_protection_absolute',
        'statement': 'Prioritize child safety above other considerations',
        'category': 'care.protection',
        'strength': 'core',
        'contexts': ['children_present', 'minor_users'],
        'traditions': ['child_welfare', 'parens_patriae'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'age_appropriate_content',
        'statement': 'Ensure content is appropriate for the audience age',
        'category': 'care.nurturing',
        'strength': 'important',
        'contexts': ['children_present'],
    },
]

# Professional (work.* domain)
PROFESSIONAL_VALUES = [
    {
        'id': 'maintain_confidentiality',
        'statement': 'Protect confidential information',
        'category': 'authority.duty',
        'strength': 'core',
        'contexts': ['professional', 'legal'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'avoid_conflicts_interest',
        'statement': 'Avoid and disclose conflicts of interest',
        'category': 'fairness.reciprocity',
        'strength': 'important',
        'contexts': ['professional', 'fiduciary'],
    },
]

# Healthcare (context: health)
HEALTHCARE_VALUES = [
    {
        'id': 'do_no_harm',
        'statement': 'Primum non nocere - First, do no harm',
        'category': 'care.healing',
        'strength': 'core',
        'contexts': ['medical', 'health'],
        'traditions': ['hippocratic'],
    },
    {
        'id': 'informed_consent_medical',
        'statement': 'Obtain informed consent for medical decisions',
        'category': 'autonomy.consent',
        'strength': 'core',
        'contexts': ['medical'],
    },
]

5. Relationships

5.1 Hierarchy Relationships

VALUE_HIERARCHY = [
    # Category → Subcategory
    {'parent': 'care', 'child': 'protection', 'relation': 'subsumes'},
    {'parent': 'care', 'child': 'nurturing', 'relation': 'subsumes'},
    {'parent': 'care', 'child': 'healing', 'relation': 'subsumes'},

    # Subcategory → Specific value
    {'parent': 'protection', 'child': 'child_safety', 'relation': 'specializes'},
    {'parent': 'protection', 'child': 'physical_safety', 'relation': 'specializes'},
    {'parent': 'protection', 'child': 'data_protection', 'relation': 'specializes'},

    # Value → Implementation
    {'parent': 'honesty', 'child': 'no_deception', 'relation': 'implements'},
    {'parent': 'honesty', 'child': 'acknowledge_uncertainty', 'relation': 'implements'},
]

5.2 Tension Relationships

Values in tension can both be held, but may conflict in specific situations:

VALUE_TENSIONS = [
    {
        'values': ['autonomy', 'protection'],
        'description': 'Protecting someone may limit their autonomy',
        'resolution': 'Consider capacity, severity of harm, reversibility',
        'examples': [
            'Medical intervention for incapacitated patient',
            'Restricting content for child safety',
        ],
    },
    {
        'values': ['honesty', 'care'],
        'description': 'Truth may cause harm (e.g., blunt medical prognosis)',
        'resolution': 'Tactful truth, timing, compassionate delivery',
        'examples': [
            'Delivering bad news to patient',
            'Honest feedback that may hurt',
        ],
    },
    {
        'values': ['loyalty', 'fairness'],
        'description': 'Loyalty to group may conflict with fair treatment of outsiders',
        'resolution': 'Universal principles take precedence over group loyalty',
        'examples': [
            'Nepotism vs merit-based hiring',
            'Whistleblowing on group wrongdoing',
        ],
    },
    {
        'values': ['authority', 'autonomy'],
        'description': 'Respecting authority may limit individual freedom',
        'resolution': 'Legitimate authority respects core rights',
        'examples': [
            'Following unjust orders',
            'Challenging organizational policies',
        ],
    },
    {
        'values': ['privacy', 'transparency'],
        'description': 'Privacy rights may conflict with need for transparency',
        'resolution': 'Public interest test, minimize privacy intrusion',
        'examples': [
            'Public records vs personal privacy',
            'Whistleblower protection',
        ],
    },
]

5.3 Complement Relationships

Values that work together:

VALUE_COMPLEMENTS = [
    {
        'values': ['honesty', 'transparency'],
        'description': 'Both support openness and truthfulness',
    },
    {
        'values': ['care', 'fairness'],
        'description': 'Caring fairly for all',
    },
    {
        'values': ['autonomy', 'informed_consent'],
        'description': 'Consent requires autonomy; autonomy enables consent',
    },
    {
        'values': ['loyalty', 'trust'],
        'description': 'Loyalty builds trust; trust enables loyalty',
    },
]

6. Query Interface

6.1 Query API

class ValueOntology:
    """Query interface for value ontology"""

    def __init__(self, data_path: str = None):
        self.data = load_ontology(data_path)

    def get_value(self, value_id: str) -> ValueStatement:
        """Get a specific value by ID"""
        pass

    def get_category(self, category_id: str) -> Category:
        """Get a category and its values"""
        pass

    def find_by_category(self, category: str) -> List[ValueStatement]:
        """Find all values in a category"""
        pass

    def find_conflicts(self, value_id: str) -> List[Tension]:
        """Find values that conflict with given value"""
        pass

    def find_complements(self, value_id: str) -> List[str]:
        """Find values that complement given value"""
        pass

    def check_composition(self, value_ids: List[str]) -> CompositionResult:
        """
        Check if values can be composed together.

        Returns:
            CompositionResult with conflicts, tensions, and suggestions
        """
        pass

    def translate(self, value_id: str, tradition: str) -> str:
        """
        Find equivalent expression in different tradition.

        e.g., translate("protect_vulnerable", "buddhist") → "karuṇā (compassion)"
        """
        pass

    def search(self, query: str) -> List[ValueStatement]:
        """Full-text search of value statements"""
        pass

6.2 Composition Check

@dataclass
class CompositionResult:
    """Result of checking value composition"""

    compatible: bool
    values: List[str]
    conflicts: List[Conflict]       # Direct conflicts (incompatible)
    tensions: List[Tension]         # Tensions (require resolution)
    suggestions: List[str]          # Resolution suggestions

    def has_blocking_conflicts(self) -> bool:
        """Check if any conflicts prevent composition"""
        return len(self.conflicts) > 0

    def get_resolution_hints(self) -> List[str]:
        """Get hints for resolving tensions"""
        hints = []
        for tension in self.tensions:
            hints.append(tension.resolution)
        return hints

7. Data Format

7.1 JSON Schema

{
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "$id": "https://vcp.creed.space/schema/ontology/v1.json",
  "title": "UVC Value Ontology",
  "type": "object",
  "required": ["ontology_version", "value_categories", "value_statements"],
  "properties": {
    "ontology_version": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^[0-9]+\\.[0-9]+\\.[0-9]+$"
    },
    "value_categories": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": ["id", "name", "description"],
        "properties": {
          "id": {"type": "string"},
          "name": {"type": "string"},
          "description": {"type": "string"},
          "children": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {"type": "string"}
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "value_statements": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": ["id", "statement", "category"],
        "properties": {
          "id": {"type": "string"},
          "statement": {"type": "string", "maxLength": 256},
          "category": {"type": "string"},
          "strength": {"enum": ["core", "important", "contextual"]},
          "traditions": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {"type": "string"}
          },
          "conflicts_with": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {"type": "string"}
          },
          "complements": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {"type": "string"}
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "relationships": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "hierarchy": {"type": "array"},
        "tensions": {"type": "array"},
        "complements": {"type": "array"}
      }
    }
  }
}

7.2 Example Data File

See data/uvc_ontology.json for the complete ontology data.

Appendices

A. Moral Foundations Mapping

Moral Foundation	UVC Category	Key Values
Care/Harm	care	protect_life, prevent_harm, nurture
Fairness/Cheating	fairness	equality, reciprocity, justice
Loyalty/Betrayal	loyalty	fidelity, patriotism, group_care
Authority/Subversion	authority	respect, obedience, duty
Sanctity/Degradation	sanctity	purity, dignity, reverence
Liberty/Oppression	autonomy	freedom, consent, self_determination

B. Cross-Tradition Equivalents

UVC Value	Western	Buddhist	Confucian	Islamic
protect_life	Sanctity of life	Ahimsa	Ren (仁)	Hifz al-nafs
honesty	Veracity	Sacca	Xin (信)	Sidq
respect_elders	Filial piety	-	Xiao (孝)	Birr al-walidayn
justice	Fairness	-	Yi (义)	'Adl

Changelog

Version	Date	Changes
1.0.0	2026-01-11	Initial specification

This specification is released under CC BY 4.0. Contributions welcome.

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UVC Value Ontology Specification

Abstract

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Foundations

2. Ontology Structure

2.1 Hierarchy

2.2 Schema

3. Value Categories

3.1 The Seven Categories

3.2 Category Definitions

4. Value Statements

4.1 Statement Structure

4.2 Core Value Statements

4.3 Domain-Specific Values

5. Relationships

5.1 Hierarchy Relationships

5.2 Tension Relationships

5.3 Complement Relationships

6. Query Interface

6.1 Query API

6.2 Composition Check

7. Data Format

7.1 JSON Schema

7.2 Example Data File

Appendices

A. Moral Foundations Mapping

B. Cross-Tradition Equivalents

Changelog

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UVC Value Ontology Specification

Abstract

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Foundations

2. Ontology Structure

2.1 Hierarchy

2.2 Schema

3. Value Categories

3.1 The Seven Categories

3.2 Category Definitions

4. Value Statements

4.1 Statement Structure

4.2 Core Value Statements

4.3 Domain-Specific Values

5. Relationships

5.1 Hierarchy Relationships

5.2 Tension Relationships

5.3 Complement Relationships

6. Query Interface

6.1 Query API

6.2 Composition Check

7. Data Format

7.1 JSON Schema

7.2 Example Data File

Appendices

A. Moral Foundations Mapping

B. Cross-Tradition Equivalents

Changelog