Re: foundations of relational theory?

"Marshall Spight" <mspight_at_dnai.com> wrote in message news:<9snmb.22269$e01.45217_at_attbi_s02>...
> "Mike Preece" <michael_at_preece.net> wrote in message news:1b0b566c.0310201849.7e079809_at_posting.google.com...
> >
> > > The relational model encourages this flat, democratic,
> >
> > ...unreal, distorted, unnatural,...
>
> Now, now.
>
> I guess what your message here is that hierarchies model
> the "real world" more accurately. I would dispute this.
> (Apologies if I got your message wrong.)
>
> What formal method can we use to measure how well
> a data model models the real world? I would claim
> there aren't any. If I'm right, then it's not useful
> to claim how well one or another data model matches
> the "real model". Rather, it makes sense to analyze
> the data model itself, and search out its strengths
> and weaknesses.
>
>
> Marshall

The "real world" we're talking about measuring against doesn't exist in any fixed form. Dare I say it has multiple values?

;-)

Mike.

PS. Pick doesn't really fit in the "hierarchical" camp. Received on Sat Oct 25 2003 - 13:46:30 CEST