is subProperty of a SymmetricProperty also symmetric? about commoncoreontologies

[johnbeve]

The role constraints of parent properties are not - in general - inherited by sub-properties.

• R rdfs:subPropertyOf R* means that if R(x,y) then R*(x,y)).
• R* owl:SymmetricProperty means that if R*(x,y) then R*(y,x).
• But these together do not entail that if R(x,y) then R(y,x).

Using a version of your example to illustrate:

1. Suppose the extension of property is_spouse_of is the set {<john,mary>}.
2. Suppose the extension of property has_wife is the set {<frank,sally>}.
3. If we assert has_wife owl:subPropertyOf is_spouse_of, the extension of is_spouse_of becomes {<john,mary>,<frank,sally>}.
4. If we then assert is_spouse_of rdf:type owl:SymmetricProperty, then the extension of is_spouse_of becomes {<john,mary>, <mary,john>, <frank,sally>, <sally,frank>}, i.e. mary is_spouse_of john.
5. But the extension of has_wife remains {<frank,sally>}.
6. Moreover, if we expand the extension of has_wife to {<john,mary>, <frank,sally>}, it would not follow that mary has_wife john, since nothing requires including <mary,john> in the extension of has_wife.

[ramesh-gupta]

Thank you so much for the clarification!