Changes between Version 6 and Version 7 of ISO15926Primer_History_KnowUnderstandThings
- Timestamp:
- 02/24/10 15:23:11 (14 years ago)
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ISO15926Primer_History_KnowUnderstandThings
v6 v7 18 18 == How We Know and Understand Things == 19 19 20 When we go beyond custom-built methods to exchange information between two particular computer applications--when we try to design a way for any two computer applications to connect to each other automatically without having to know anything at all about each other--we confront the question of how we represent knowledge. This is not just sophistry; if two computer systems are to connect to each other automatically, we must have a way to embed the necessary context (the understanding that humans bring) within the data that is being exchanged. For this we need to understand how we know things. The study of how we know things in philosophy and mathematics is called ''ontololgy''.20 When we go beyond custom-built methods to exchange information between two particular computer applications--when we try to design a way for any two random computer applications to connect to each other automatically without having to know anything at all about each other--we confront the question of how we represent knowledge. This is not just sophistry; if two computer systems are to connect to each other automatically, we must have a way to embed the necessary context (the understanding that humans bring) within the data that is being exchanged. For this we need to understand how we know things. The study of how we know things in philosophy and mathematics is called ''ontololgy''. 21 21 22 22 ''Philosophy, sufficiently advanced, is indistinguishable from bulls**t.[[BR]] --Greg Berge'' … … 40 40 '''Fig 4 - Pickup Truck with a Camper Loaded''' 41 41 42 But hold on! My father used to own a camper for his own pickup truck (he being a ''Real'' ''Man'' and all), and I remember looking inside it. There was space just inside the door that might be able to fit a bicycle. Alas, Bill tells me, he has already filled the available space with his other camping gear leaving no room.42 But hold on! My father used to own a camper for his own pickup truck (he being a ''Real'' ''Man'' and all), and I remember looking inside it. There was space just inside the door that might be able to fit a bicycle. Alas, Bill tells me, he has already filled the available space with his other camping gear, leaving no room. 43 43 44 44 So with that conversation, I start planning how to get home on public transit. Being a ''Real'' ''Man'' myself, I own a pickup truck and will have to drive it back to work to pick up my bicycle. But by coincidence, a new engineer, who's just emigrated from the Czech Republic, walks by and overhears my dilemma. He tells me that when he moved to Canada, he brought with him his ''Felicia'' ''Fun''. I can't imagine what a ''Felicia'' ''Fun'' is, but judging by the expectant smile on his face I suspect it might be relevant so I ask him about it. Being new to Canada he doesn't know how to describe it so he says it is like the F150 his friend has, but a bit smaller. (The Czech Republic has ''Real'' ''Men'' too!) I immediately accept his kind offer to drive me and my bicycle home after work. (Oh, and I owe him a ''really'' big favor. Perhaps I will invite him in for Ukrainian food!)
