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Re: [ontolog-forum] IKL mailing list for discussions?

To: "[ontolog-forum] " <ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Christopher Menzel <cmenzel@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:26:11 -0500
Message-id: <CA3C7E93-D6D9-407D-A476-F716C6C19557@xxxxxxxx>
>> IKL is a logical language (well, a class of logical languages) for
>> representing declarative information rigorously.  Like standard  
>> first-
>> order logic, it is not a "tool" in the sense of, say, Protege that
>> comes with built-in mechanisms for representing and reasoning upon
>> class hierarchies and the like that might help one to think about and
>> formalize the structure of information in a specific domain.  (I take
>> it you envision mKR as a tool in this sense as well, its lack of both
>> a semantics and an underlying reasoning mechanism notwithstanding.)
>
> I consider any language to be a tool for thinking.    (01)

Fine, but it seems to me that that pretty much reduces the notion of a  
"tool" to triviality.  Typically, a tool is something that facilitates  
an activity, something that speeds it along or helps to make one  
better at it, rather than something that simply makes that activity  
possible.  In your sense, a language is also a tool for, say, writing  
great speeches.  That said, I suppose a *logical* language like IKL  
facilitates thinking a *bit*, simply because casting propositions into  
a logical form itself brings rigor and clarity that is sometimes  
lacking in natural language.    (02)

> I put IKL in the class of languages like Prolog.    (03)

Well, you shouldn't.  More evidence of the striking gaps in your  
knowledge of fundamental issues.    (04)

Chris Menzel    (05)


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