RE: ONT Re: Zeroth Order Ontology

Yes, let's wait for Jon. Since extension and intension (the latter, at
least) were at the heart of my doctoral dissertation, I believe I am not in
the "student at the feet of the master" mode when discussing this topic with
Jon, at least not unless he succeeds in imposing the mathematical language
he is comfortable with on the discussion. I make great efforts to use the
vocabulary of others here, in the interest of communicating across wide gaps
in background. I think it would only be hubris not to return the favor. This
is why I don't wish to discuss my SIDB (semantic interoperability of
databases) issue by way of Jon's three questions.

One could respond that, given the background of most participants in this
forum, there is a concensus that we MUST translate into that mathematical
language. My response would be that I think my contributions in this forum
have shown another language, or another dialect, in which some degree of
relevant communication seems to have succeeded. It's the dialect of the
Socratic Engineer vs. the dialect of the Mathematical Scientist. I extend my
hand across the gaping chasm, but refuse to lean so far that I fall in. Will
you and Jon reciprocally reach out?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Murray Altheim
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 6:43 AM
To: Jon Awbrey
Cc: Inquiry; Ontology; SemioCom
Subject: Re: ONT Re: Zeroth Order Ontology



Jon Awbrey wrote:
[...]
> JA: | Let us try to approach the question
>     | of "semantic inter-operability" (SIO)
>     | by way of the following sub-questions:
>     |
>     | 1.  What is the "meaning" of a "finite set of sentences" (FSOS)?
>     |
>     | 2.  What is the "meaning" of a "finite set of tuples" (FSOT)?
>     |
>     | 3.  How shall we compare the "meanings" of these two?
>
> What we have here is a failure to intercommunicate between
> extensional and intensional datasets/concepts, and that is
> the problem that I would like to approach in the manner of
> newborn babes, simplicity first, step-wise trying to crawl,
> to walk, to run, perchance to fly, in that order, whatever
> else it takes to get the idea across.

*This* is what I've been waiting for. And unfortunately, I'll have
to wait a week until we continue (Jon is out-of-office until Nov.).

Murray

......................................................................
Murray Altheim                    http://kmi.open.ac.uk/people/murray/
Knowledge Media Institute
The Open University, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK7 6AA, UK               .

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