RE: SUO: *Date 16 Feb 2002
>I would state the basic points in the following words: Any fixed set
>of ontological categories defined and edicted by any human authority
>(whether ISO, ANSI, IEEE, or whatever) would be useful for at most
>a limited number of applications (perhaps one or two, maybe a dozen).
>Only an omniscient legislator (e.g., God) could define an ontology
>that would be adequate to meet the goals that some of the people
>on the SUO list have been claiming for a "Standard Upper Ontology".
Perhaps to satisfy the goals of the people on the list, some Allahesque
judge would be required. To satisfy the immediate, practical needs of people
that wish to manage information today (potentially huge amounts, in diverse
domains), I think there are fewer demands.
However, I am sure if a SUO were carved in stone today (e.g. by ISO), it
would be redundant in a few weeks time - surely it is possible to agree on a
standard v0.1, that once people had chance to play with it would return as
v0.1.1 and so on. This would strike me as far more productive than
non-starters & political gaming.
I also think that once developers have something to hang their hook on, then
the limitations become secondary - is XML perfect?
> > Maybe I should stress some of the other things that I am not saying.
> > I am not saying that inter-communicability and inter-operability are
> > impossible. In fact, I take it for granted that these things happen
> > all the time in everyday life among intelligent creatures, from mice
> > to men and back again, so the question is one of an established form:
> > What are the grounds of this possibility already in progress, and how
> > can we but further it a little?
There's enough history for us to be able to make rational (albeit mortal)
judgements. In this history I would include the Microsoft Corporation,
Berners-Lee's contributions and the Scholastics.
>I also agree with these comments. I am in the process of preparing
>another talk on these topics, which I plan to present at a conference
>in March. I'll send a note next week with a pointer to the slides.
Please post your notes too ;-)
Cheers,
Danny.