# KEHOME/doc/glossary.html
# Mar/2/2003

MKR/MKE glossary

#=====================================================# # References (see KEHOME/doc/ref.html) # # Glossary of Objectivist Definitions # # Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology # # Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand # # The Ayn Rand Lexicon # # KEHOME/kb/tabrasa.def # # KEHOME/kb/ke.def # # KEHOME/knowledge/theory/Epistemology/epist.html # # KEHOME/knowledge/theory/Epistemology/identify.htm # #=====================================================# #===========================# # entity and characteristic # #===========================# # existent # An "existent" is something that exists, be it a thing, # an attribute or an action. existent isc entity, characteristic, proposition; # entity # Since it is axiomatic, the referents of entity can be # specified only ostensively, by pointing to the things # given to men in sense perception ... solid things with # a perceivable shape, such as a rock, a person, or a table. entity isa existent with characteristic; entity isc animal, plant, object; # characteristic # A characteristic is a part of the identity of an entity. characteristic isa existent with identity of entity; characteristic isc part, attribute, relation, action, interaction; # proposition # A proposition is an identification of a relation(s) # between entity, characteristic. proposition isa existent with identification of entity, characteristic relation; proposition isc context, sentence; proposition ::= at context { sentence }; at context; sentence # context # The context is the entire field of a mind's awareness # or knowledge at any level of its cognitive development. context isa proposition list with space, time, view; view isc tabula rasa, ...; # sentence # A sentence is a list of symbols used to represent # the relations between existents. sentence isa symbol list with subject, predicate, object, modifier; sentence isc statement, question, command, assignment; # word # A word is merely a visual-auditory symbol used to represent # a concept. word isa symbol with referent = concept, sensation = visual-auditory; # meaning # The meaning of a concept is the existents subsumed # under the concept. word means concept; concept means existent; sentence means relations between concepts; proposition means relations between existents; #===========================# # proposition and knowledge # #===========================# proposition ::= at space=s,time=t,view=v; at space=s,time=t,view=v { proposition list }; sentence statement ::= existent is existent; # identity existent is genus with differentia; # definition existent has characteristic; # property existent haspart part = value; # part existent has attribute = value; # attribute existent:1 rel existent:2; # binary relation existent isin relation = value; # n-ary relation entity do action = event # action with action characteristics out action products od action direct objects from initial action characteristics to final action characteristics done; event:1 causes event:2; # interaction # knowledge # "Knowledge" is ... a mental grasp of a fact(s) of reality, # reached either by perceptual observation or by a process # of reason based on perceptual observation. percept := man do perceive od entity done; concept := man do classify od percept done; measurement := man do measure od characteristic done; proposition := man do identify od entity done; definition := man do define od concept done; proposition := man do reason od proposition done; knowledge := man do identify od existent done; knowledge haspart proposition list; # implicit knowledge # Implicit knowledge is passively held material which, # to be grasped, requires a special focus and process # of consciousness. #========================# # concept and definition # #========================# # concept # A concept is a mental integration of two or more units # possessing the same distinguising characteristic(s), # with their particular measurements omitted. concept isa group of two or more units with same distinguishing characteristics, particular measurements omitted; concept isc two or more units; concept := man do mentally integrate od two or more units with distinguishing characteristics, particular measurements omitted done; # unit # A unit is an existent regarded as a separate member # of a group of two or more similar members. unit isa existent with { unit ismem group of two or more similar units; }; unit := man do mentally differentiate od concept with distinguishing characteristics, particular measurements included done; # definition # A definition is a statement that identifies the nature # of the units subsumed under a concept. definition isa statement with identification of unit, concept relation; definition isc genus-differentia definition, ostensive definition, procedural definition; concept isa genus with essential characteristics; # genus-differentia concept isc two or more units; # ostensive concept := entity do method ... done; # procedural #================================# # measurement and classification # #================================# # measurement # Measurement is the identification of a relationship -- # a quantitative relationship established by means of a # standard that serves as a unit. measurement := entity do measure od characteristic of existent with standard as unit done; # classification # Classification is ... class := entity do classify od existent with particular measurements to concept hierarchy done;