Reification as nesting

   [Wolfram Conen]
   I haven't found too much in the spec that forbids to interpret that what
   is being called "reification" in RDF M&S as nesting (and only as
   nesting). 

Yes, I think you're right.  A lot of the arguments about this issue
are based on the misconception that the advocates of "reification"
were talking about quotation.  The rdf:quote mechanism clearly shows
that one doesn't actually have to reify to achieve the desired
effect, which is to block the inexorable triple-inference rule.

The good news is that a consensus is emerging, based on the idea of
drawing a line around an RDF substructure with a note saying "Don't
automatically infer the stuff in here."

The bad news is that there are too many terms being used for this
idea, including "context," "nesting," and "reification."  These terms
have lots of distracting associations with other topics.  Some fairly
neutral party (Lynn Stein?) should pick a term, and then we can all
agree to use it, and turn our attention to the details of how to
indicate nesting, or whatever we call it.

                                             -- Drew McDermott

Received on Tuesday, 5 June 2001 12:51:31 UTC