RE: Multi-layered Knowledge Representations for Healthcare

    Physical vrs Informational
    Natural vrs Artificial
    Real vrs Imaginary
    Composite vrs Characteristic
    Individual vrs Collective
    Atomic vrs Mediating
    Specific vrs Indefinite
    Continuant vrs Occurrent

Not many discriminants can be found which are simultaneously orthogonal
(independent of one another) and general (can be applied to anything) and useful
(easy to clearly define and decide).   The listing above may in fact be nearly
complete (although many would debate its specifics or suggest other candidates).

Regardless of the particulars, I suggest that a better semantic model for your
"layer 0" would be all and only those discriminants which have all three
qualities - independence, generality, and utility - and hence can be employed to
help define any class or instance desired. 

[VK] Thanks, Dan! This is a very good guideline and framework to work from.
 
Cheers,
 
---Vipul 

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