RE: Preferable alternative to 'resource'

We could then have the Uniform Anything Identifier and the Anything
Description Framework.

Dave

> -----Original Message-----
> From: www-tag-request@w3.org [mailto:www-tag-request@w3.org] 
> On Behalf Of Pat Hayes
> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 1:55 PM
> To: John Cowan; Tim Berners-Lee
> Cc: Technical Architecture Group WG; Susie Stephens
> Subject: Re: Preferable alternative to 'resource'
> 
> 
> >>Tim Berners-Lee scripsit:
> >>
> >>>  So, Pat, what would be a better word which we should use 
> instead?  
> >>> The class of all  ____ s?  The class of which all classes are  
> >>> subclasses is the class of ____ s?
> >>
> >>Subjects, in accordance with the OED's definition 13a: "That which 
> >>forms, or is chosen as, the matter of thought, consideration, or 
> >>inquiry; a topic, theme."  Using "subject" rather than "object" or 
> >>"thing" allows us to talk about the imaginary as well as the real.
> >
> >Yes, that does avoid a potential problem with "thing". And its close 
> >to, but not identical to, "topic". Just make sure to avoid the 
> >grammatical implication, is all.
> >
> 
> Though, on further reflection, this is going to give rise to 
> problems as well. The OED sense isn't found, for example, in 
> Wikipedia (not surprising if it is number 13a, now I think of 
> it), though the RDF sense is (!); and the grammatical sense 
> is much more common. 
> Philosophers will contrast 'subject' with 'object' and 
> presume we are only talking about agents. Lawyers will 
> presume we are referring to citizens as opposed to aliens. 
> Its hard to beat "thing" if we also say that we allow 
> imaginary and non-existent things. And its harder still to 
> beat "anything".
> 
> Pat
> 
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Received on Thursday, 27 September 2007 21:01:02 UTC