Re: The term "theory" as in "database theory"

On Jan 27, 12:53 pm, "dawn" <dawnwolth..._at_gmail.com> wrote:
> The false notion that Occam's razor (you can start with http://
> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_Razor if you need more explanation) has
> anything to do with relational theory and the notion that because a
> relation is simpler than a graph, for example, that is proof that a
> relational model for data is better than a graphic model for data. --

If one is going to deny Occam's Razor, one is implicitly asserting that, given two models of equal value, either:

1. We should not judge the two models on the basis of their relative complexity; complexity is irrelevant.
2. We should prefer the more complex model; complexity is good.

I whether either of these positions has any merit.

Marshall Received on Sat Jan 27 2007 - 22:11:03 CET