>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ontolog-forum-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:ontolog-forum-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pat Hayes
>> Sent: 30 August 2007 19:09
>> To: Barker, Sean (UK)
>> Cc: [ontolog-forum]
>> Subject: Re: [ontolog-forum] Current Semantic Web Layer pizza
>> (was ckae)
>>
>> >John
>> >
>> > Thanks for your patience. My view, more precisely, is
>> that anything
>> >called semantics must be grounded in pragmatics to make sense.
>>
>> BUt that is clearly wrong, since there are semantic theories
>> of wide application which do not refer to pragmatics. I think
>> you state your case too strongly.
>>
>> >If semantics has a use, it is in creating systems of terms, and
>> >structuring their differentia.
>>
>> ? No, it is is specifying the meanings of formal expressions.
>
>The problem I have that I can't see "the meaning of formal expressions"
>stops being a circular definition until one agrees what effect they have
>- or at least, when one does something in the world as a consequence of
>these formal expressions. (01)
Well, wait a second. Of course you are entitled to take the view that
only the pragmatic consequences really matter (to you), but again you
overstate your case. To accuse the entirety of formal semantic theory
for the last 60 years as being 'circular', only exhibits your
ignorance, I am afraid. It may be of little interest to a hard-nosed
manager, but its certainly not *circular*. (02)
>It is interesting (intellectually) to know
>that 1 + 1 = 0, but it
>is of practical consequence when I turn lights on and off. (03)
Nice example. If your light controller uses any kind of digital
circuitry, then it matters a lot that 1+1 mod 2 =0 in binary. It
mattered to the designers of the chips, and if the controller is
anything much more than a switch then it probably mattered to the
programmer of the ROM code. You only get the practical consequences
you want when the system is using its internal formalisms coherently
with their intended semantics. Arithmetic might seem like rather
piffling semantics, but an even more piffling semantic error made
NASA miss Mars not long ago. (04)
Pat (05)
>
>Sean Barker
>Bristol, UK
>
>This mail is publicly posted to a distribution list as part of a process
>of public discussion, any automatically generated statements to the
>contrary non-withstanding. It is the opinion of the author, and does not
>represent an official company view.
>
>
>********************************************************************
>This email and any attachments are confidential to the intended
>recipient and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended
>recipient please delete it from your system and notify the sender.
>You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose or
>distribute its contents to any other person.
>******************************************************************** (06)
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
IHMC (850)434 8903 or (650)494 3973 home
40 South Alcaniz St. (850)202 4416 office
Pensacola (850)202 4440 fax
FL 32502 (850)291 0667 cell
phayesAT-SIGNihmc.us http://www.ihmc.us/users/phayes (07)
_________________________________________________________________
Message Archives: http://ontolog.cim3.net/forum/ontolog-forum/
Subscribe/Config: http://ontolog.cim3.net/mailman/listinfo/ontolog-forum/
Unsubscribe: mailto:ontolog-forum-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shared Files: http://ontolog.cim3.net/file/
Community Wiki: http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/
To Post: mailto:ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (08)
|