Re: NULLs: theoretical problems?
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:21:17 GMT
Message-ID: <htqui.43975$rX4.24434_at_pd7urf2no>
Marshall wrote:
> ...
> Concepts such as natural numbers or relations or functions
> do not exist in the same way that rocks and birds exist.
> NULL "exists" in exactly the same way that 5 exists; ...
Heh, and in the same way that 5 doesn't exist?
...
the
> only distinctions to be made between abstractions is in
> their behavior and our judgment of their usefulness. I say
> this even though I have a very low opinion of NULL.
> ...
Even if not only in the mind's eye, existence isn't enough to make a formal system out of. At least the SQL people can claim they have a definition of sorts, even though it is an absurd one. Maybe they don't care, maybe they were just obeying orders.
p Received on Wed Aug 08 2007 - 23:21:17 CEST