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Re: [ontolog-forum] Two ontologiesthat areinconsistent but bothneeded

To: "'[ontolog-forum] '" <ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: "Chris Partridge" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:07:24 +0100
Message-id: <004701c7b017$490f8a00$0200a8c0@POID7204>
John,    (01)

I am not too bothered about the name itself. However, one reason I would
suggest for being aware of the name, if not actually using it, is that so
much work has been done in (blue-sky, impractical) philosophy in rigorously
laying out the choices - and the name 'metaphysics' (or 'metaphysical
choices') points to this work. It would be a pity if people were not aware
of it.    (02)

Regards,
Chris    (03)

>-----Original Message-----
>From: ontolog-forum-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ontolog-forum-
>bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John F. Sowa
>Sent: 16 June 2007 13:38
>To: [ontolog-forum]
>Subject: Re: [ontolog-forum] Two ontologiesthat areinconsistent but
>bothneeded
>
>Chris,
>
>I would suggest dropping the word "metaphysical" because many
>people confuse that word with blue-sky theory that has no
>practical applications.
>
>CP> It seems to me that these choices are metaphysical, in the
> > sense that no amount of empirical data can decide the issue.
>
>There are four very strong kinds of constraints:
>
>  1. Language (which encodes many generations of what people
>     call "common sense"):  Do the categories of the ontology
>     have a smooth mapping to and from the way people talk
>     about the subject?
>
>  2. Science:  Can the categories be mapped consistently to and
>     from the best empirical evidence as codified in well tested
>     scientific theories?  (This is essentially refined common
>     sense supported by instrumentation that extends and enhances
>     the human senses.)
>
>  3. Logic:  Are the categories compatible, in the sense that
>     they can fit together in a consistent description of the
>     subject matter of interest?
>
>  4. Applications:  Do the categories cover all the available
>     data that is relevant to the subject matter?
>
>Those four constraints characterize good metaphysics, and it
>takes a lot of very hard work to satisfy all four of them.
>
>What gives the word 'metaphysical' bad connotations is laziness
>on the part of people who write down a bunch of symbols without
>testing them in sufficient detail against all four constraints.
>
>John
>
>
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>    (04)

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