Re: Multiple rdf:type elements

> 
> An example of an rdf:Description element containing multiple rdf:type
> elements came up in a recent discussion.  Clearly the syntax allows this,
> and any one of the rdf:type elements could be used to produce a typedNode
> form.
> 
> Has there ever been any discussion about the utility or meaning of this?
> Perhaps to model multiple inheritance? Is it an oversight in the syntax?
> Should RDF implementations complain about it if they have a checking mode?

Might I suggest my article:

http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/library/x-think8.html

A large part of this article covers why RDF has and should have such a 
flexible notion of class and type.

And, no, there is no need to think of it in terms of multiple inheritance.  I 
suggest leaving OO biases at the door when dealing with RDF.  Luckily, RDF 
doesn't inherit OO's very limited world view.


-- 
Uche Ogbuji                                    Fourthought, Inc.
http://uche.ogbuji.net    http://4Suite.org    http://fourthought.com
Track chair, XML/Web Services One (San Jose, Boston): 
http://www.xmlconference.com/
DAML Reference - http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2002/05/01/damlref.html
The Languages of the Semantic Web - http://www.newarchitectmag.com/documents/s=
2453/new1020218556549/index.html
XML, The Model Driven Architecture, and RDF @ XML Europe - 
http://www.xmleurope.com/2002/kttrack.asp#themodel

Received on Monday, 10 June 2002 00:31:51 UTC