Re: c.d.theory glossary - RELATION

From: mAsterdam <mAsterdam_at_vrijdag.org>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 18:13:27 +0200
Message-ID: <40927b31$0$557$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl>

x wrote:

> mAsterdam wrote:

>>x wrote:
>>>mAsterdam wrote:
>>>>x wrote:
>>>>>Laconic2 wrote:
>>>>>> I would have said that "An entity is DESCRIBED BY
>>>>>> a set of attributes."
>>>>>>I think REPRESENTED is too strong.
>>[snip]
>>>>In short
>>>>RM.REPRESENT yes, *facts*.
>>>>ER.REPRESENT yes, *things*.
>>>
>>>If you look in a dictionary you'll find:
>>> Fact: someTHING that exists (or happened).
>>
>>At http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=fact
>>
>>I find:
>> Definition:
>>
>> 1. [n] a piece of information about circumstances that exist or
>>events that have occurred; "first you must collect all the facts of the
>>case"
>> 2. [n] a concept whose truth can be proved; "scientific hypotheses
>>are not facts"
>> 3. [n] a statement or assertion of verified information about
>>something that is the case or has happened; "he supported his argument
>>with an impressive array of facts"
>> 4. [n] an event known to have happened or something known to have
>>existed; "your fears have no basis in fact"; "how much of the story is
>>fact and how much fiction is hard to tell"
>>
>>
>>I'ld say a _fact_ is about a _thing_ (or things).

> 
> fact (fakt)  n.
>                   1.  something that actually exists; reality;
>                        truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.
>                   2.  something known to exist or to have
>                        happened.
>                   3.  a truth known by actual experience or
>                        observation; something known to be true:
>                        scientific facts about plant growth.
>                   4.  something said to be true or supposed to
>                        have happened.
>                   5.  an actual or alleged event or
>                        circumstance, as distinguished from its
>                        legal effect or consequence.

These sure do not have the sense of 'aboutness' I have, and saw confirmed at http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=fact

Equating 'fact' and 'thing' gives me an uneasy feeling. Just curious: what was the source of this definition? Received on Fri Apr 30 2004 - 11:13:27 CDT