Re: The word "symbol"

x wrote:
> "VC" <boston103_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3pSdnZ2dnZ3OuruInZ2dnbWGnt6dnZ2dRVn-yp2dnZ0_at_comcast.com...
> >
> > "x" <x_at_not-exists.org> wrote in message
> > news:ddumtk$fop$1_at_domitilla.aioe.org...
>
> > >
> > > A tuple in a relation of a relational database can be a symbol for a
> > > relation between some things.
> > > Would you say a tuple is a name ?
>
> > Tuple ain't no symbol. If 'by relation between some things' you mean a
> > reald world entity, then tuple is model of the entity.
>
> I mean a relation between some real world entities.

If one talks about the real world things and relations between them, one would use some sort of semi-formal/natural language in order to capture some fragment of the reality (conceptual model). Later, a formal logical model, such as the RM with its tuples and relations and such, may be used to express the conceptual stuff in a precise manner.

Since a tuple is just a collection of attributes representing/modelling a real thing in some satisfactory (or unsatisafctory) way, it's as productive to call it a "symbol" or a "name" as it is to call a person's age or weight a symbol. You can of course but what good would it serve ? In a narrow formalized world created to capture some fragment of reality a tuple modelling a person *is* a person. Received on Wed Aug 17 2005 - 14:50:02 CEST