[Sigia-l] Question about the use of the term 'ontology'

[Alexander Johannesen]

Me:
> | It's just a data model and a great tool and I find it a bit
> | misleading to say that they fit into an ontology category. It is
> | more the other way around.

Lars Marius Garshol <larsga at garshol.priv.no> wrote:
> Mmmmm, I don't quite agree with that. "Ontology" is quite a broad
> term, and it encompasses a large set of diverse things, so I think
> saying (as my taxonomy did) that topic maps are a kind of ontology,
> and that ontologies are one structure that can be used for subject-
> based classification is entirely fair.

Ok, so since "ontology" can encompass pretty much anythig you want,
Topic Maps will fit into that. I agree. :) Hmm, 'ontology' doesn't
mean much without constraints really, does it? It all comes down to
how everybody defines the word and it what context they use it. Too
diluted for general chit-chat, I feel. :)


Alex
-- 
"Ultimately, all things are known because you want to believe you know."
                                                         - Frank Herbert
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