Re: In an RDBMS, what does "Data" mean?

In message <xUzrc.91756$536.15748076_at_attbi_s03>, Marshall Spight <mspight_at_dnai.com> writes
>"Anthony W. Youngman" <wol_at_thewolery.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:sFcs6eBT2+qAFwPo_at_thewolery.demon.co.uk...
>>
>> If we can't set up an experiment (even a Gedanken thought experiment),
>> then relational theory is not provable, therefor it is not scientific,
>
>Correct, relational theory is not scientific.

Good. We agree :-)
>
>> therefor it is irrelevant to the real world, therefor why the hell are
>> we using it :-)
>
>Because it is *mathematical.*

So I can use any theory I like, so long as it's mathematical, then?

You'd be quite happy for me to calculate your aeroplane's route from A to B using whatever geometrical theory I cared for, and you wouldn't object if I used a theory who's practical effect was to destroy your aircraft in a huge fireball as it underwent a "controlled flight into terrain", just as long as I could prove the maths I was using was perfectly sound. The fact that it was the wrong theory for the real-world task in hand wouldn't bother you in the slightest?
>
>I can imagine giving you a four function calculator, and you saying,
>how can I devise a real-world, scientific experiment to verify the
>validity of this thing, and then throwing it out because you couldn't.
>
>Four function calculators are not scientific, but they are still
>useful, mathematically.
>
Well, actually, I could think of an experiment. "If I type '4' '+' '4' '*' '4' '=' into this thing, then it should come up '20' but might come up '32' ". And either way, I will be happy at using it because I can predict (ie "do science") that it will come up with a "correct" answer, and I can verify that answer.

Actually, I've just done exactly that with the calculator in my copy of Windows, and guess which answer it came up with ...

Cheers,
Wol

-- 
Anthony W. Youngman - wol at thewolery dot demon dot co dot uk
HEX wondered how much he should tell the Wizards. He felt it would not be a
good idea to burden them with too much input. Hex always thought of his reports
as Lies-to-People.
The Science of Discworld : (c) Terry Pratchett 1999