Re: URIs: resources and contradictions was: Re: httpRange proposed text

On Sun, Aug 04, 2002 at 11:32:35AM +0100, Miles Sabin wrote:
> Jonathan Borden wrote,
> > I don't claim that removing ambiguity about the mapping of URI to
> > resource somehow removes all ambiguity in the system ... that would
> > be a miracle. I think we need to move step by step and clarifying the
> > relationship between URI resource and representation would be a great
> > first step.
> 
> I agree that that's a valuable goal. But I'm not convinced that making 
> the URI to resource mapping 1:1 actually promotes it.
> 
> Take http://www.w3.org/ again. You say that there's a 1:1 mapping of 
> that URI onto a resource. You also seem to be saying that there are 
> contexts where that resource "means" a particular document, and that 
> there are contexts where that resource "means" the W3C's web site. 
> Right?

Given any context (belief system) you can say that it 'means' anything
you want it to mean. The issue is that there are two important sets
of contexts: one is what the authority that owns/has change control over
"www.w3.org" says is the context and the other is what others say
that believe about it. Its the difference between opinion and identity.
The W3C has the ability to say what "is" while anything said by anyone
else is merely opinion. The difference is very important.

> I know what a document is, and I know what a web site is, but I've 
> really no idea what a resource which might "mean" one or the other is, 
> unless it's just an artefact of a semantic theory. Or try it again with 
> another example: I know what a document is, and I know what a car is, 
> but I've no idea what a resource which might "mean" one or the other 
> is, again, unless it's just an artefact of a semantic theory.

Its an artifact of someone trying say "this is what _I_ think this means"
and "this is what the owner says it means". If you don't make
a distinction based on authority then its all just vague assertions
with no concreteness on which to base anything.

-MM

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Mealling	|      Vote Libertarian!       | urn:pin:1
michael@neonym.net      |                              | http://www.neonym.net

Received on Sunday, 4 August 2002 11:14:29 UTC