Re: space,time in KR: context, initial, final

Belated comments.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard H. McCullough 

  a. Jane has sex=female 
  b. Jane isa person 
  c. John do walk with a limp done 
  d. John do walk to the store done 
  a and b are attribute and relation statements which are independent of space-time. 

  GR> a is not independent if Jane has a sex change. If your datastore was for a sex-change clinic it would be the most significant variable. In some jurisdictions sex changes are not recognized (I understand from this week's newspapers that in the UK it will be possible in future to change your birth certificate) so this statement is both space and time dependent.

  b is space-time dependent according to your definition of "person". If it is a legal definition then in many jurisdictions it will be true only after one of Jane's birthdays, and which one will vary from place to place.

  c is an action statement which is independent of space-time. 

  GR> c is not time independent. Presumably Jane wasn't born walking, so it is not true until at least the time at which she could walk. After that it depends on whether the limp was genetic or acquired. She will also only walk with a limp in appropriate environments (eg not under water or if she is an astronaut).

  d is an action statement which depends on space-time. 
   
  GR> ...as are all the rest. In any case they are bounded by Jane's life: and that may have begun at conception or at birth, or any time between or even before, according to your religious or philosophical conjecture, or the requirements of your datastore. 

  Any definition of space-time independence is itself space-time dependent, and dependent on the view of the domain within which, or the authority by which, it is expressed.  (But then again, that's just my point of view...:-)

  I dont disagree with your general approach to contexts, btw Richard: it is quite similar to the one we use, but beware of making non-contextual statements about them as they undermine its credibility and usefulness.

  Godfrey Rust
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