Re: [ontolog-forum] Characteristics of a Software

["Azamat" <abdoul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:55 AM, Abhilash I asked:

''What does it mean to call something a "characteristic" ?''

Aside note, what does it mean ''Abhilash I'', looks like a kingish name.

 

As for your good question. It is one of the most frequently used terms in scientific papers really needing much better understanding. 

As such it means ''feature'' or ''property'', ''a distinguishing quality'', ''a prominent aspect'', or what distinguishes a thing or a class of things. Attribute, distinction, character, indication, invariant, property, quality, sign, or singularity may go as its synonyms. We say 'device characteristic' or 'sex characteristic' or 'safety characteristic', etc.

In logic, it goes as a predicable, as something that may be predicated of the subject. More deep interpretation divides the  characteristics or properties into three groups: 1. differentia or essential characteristic; 2. property, nonessential characteristic, 3. accident, accidental characteristic.

The way to test what is what is the following:

1. if the characteristic (predicate) states the essence of a thing and is convertible with its subject, it is an essential chraracteristic, part of the definition;

2. if it does not state an essence but only convertible, then a property of the subject;

3. if neither convertible nor state an essence, then an accidental characteristic.

Using such a traditional legacy on characteristic or property, you can systematically define any concept. Say, if the subject is ''man'': its class, of hominid; differentia, of rationality or intellect; property, of having errectile posture, of being able to language communication; accident, of race, Black, White, Yellow, Red, Blue, or whatever else.  

 

As for your other questions, ''can you give any pointers on automating this process ?'', refer to the semantic web forum semantic-web@xxxxxx, there are many excellent program developers, and there you can get a mostly competent answer.

best,

Azamat Abdoullaev

www.igi-global.com/downloads/pdf/Abdoullaev.pdf.

----- Original Message -----

From: Abhilash I

To: [ontolog-forum]

Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:55 AM

Subject: [ontolog-forum] Characteristics of a Software

Hi all,

Recently i came across the following, described as characteristics of a software,
   1) Developed or engineered
   2) not manufactured
   3) doesn't wear out

Few questions that i have been pondering on

What does it mean to call something a "characteristic" ?
And can you give any pointers on automating this process ?

--
Abhilash I
IIIT-Hyderabad

---

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