Re: [ontolog-forum] Taxonomies, cuts, and the decimal system

[Simon Spero <sesuncedu@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Aug 10, 2013 9:04 PM, "Bruce Schuman" <bruceschuman@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> TAXONONOMIC DECOMPOSITION AND DECIMAL PLACES
>
> This is an idea that fascinates me and feels powerful – because it seems “perfectly recursive” and amazingly parsimonious.  To me, this idea feels like Occam’s Razor personified – so tell me why I’m wrong…

Suppose that we were to use a fixed point representation, with the decimal place fixed after the third digit.

We might arbitrarily assign subject of mammals the number 599 ; humans might be assigned the number 599.9, with primates given the number 599.8. 

Beneficial mammals could be assigned 599.163; ungulates 599.6.

But what about ungulates that are beneficial?

"The intellect cannot be tied down with a decimal thong"  -- http://www.cafepress.com/ranganathong

Simon

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