That makes a lot of sense. (01)
Mike (02)
Pat Hayes wrote:
>
> On Feb 7, 2009, at 12:29 PM, Matthew West wrote:
>
>> Dear Pat,
>>
>> OK. So it looks like we agree after all.
>>
>> Quicksort. Im quite happy to just say that Quicksort, the algorithm,
>> is an abstraction, if you prefer that way of talking. We still need a
>> way to refer to the 'abstract' version of an ontology, if we believe
>> that such things exist: the thing that stands in the same relation to
>> a number of formal ontologies that an 'abstract' algorithm stands in
>> relation to any of its renderings as programs in a formal programming
>> language.
>> */ /*
>> */[MW] It seems to me that there are (at least) 3 levels:/*
>> */1. /**/Some “physical” representation (including actions as
>> signs here)./*
>> */2. /**/The content of a physical representation in some
>> “language”./*
>> */3. /**/The content of a physical representation independent
>> of “language”./*
>> */ /*
>> */I agree that we need a way to refer to an abstract version of an
>> ontology. How about “theory”? The OED has amongst a number of
>> definitions:/*
>> */ /*
>> */“A scheme or system of ideas or statements held as an explanation
>> or account of a group of facts or phenomena.”/*
>> */ /*
>> */That gives you program/algorithm and ontology/theory. It also
>> sounds reasonable to say that an ontology represents a theory in a
>> language./*
>
> Sounds nice, but (unfortunately?) "theory" has been appropriated long
> ago by logicians, to refer, ironically, to a set of formal sentences
> in a logic, ie to a formal ontology, the "program" end of the
> contrast. I think it would cause more harm than good to try to use it
> for an explicitly contrasting term.
>
> How about "conception"? My /conception/ of time is that it is a fourth
> dimension; others' /conception/ of time is that it is a dynamic
> property of the ever-changing present. Given such different
> /conceptions/, its no wonder that we don't come up with compatible
> /ontologies/.
>
> This also has the advantage of coming with a useful verb form, to
> /conceive/ (some topic or area) (in a certain way). Somebody will at
> some point start making jokes about womb-envy, but we can ignore them.
>
> Comments, anyone?
>
>
>> *//*
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Matthew West
>> Information Junction
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