RE: First Order Logic and Semantic Web RE: NPR, Godel, Semantic W eb

[Jeff Lowery <jlowery@scenicsoft.com>]

Well, it seems that the amount of trust one puts in a stereotype or
authority must be correlated with the weighted impact of consequent actions
based on the data involved. No one needs be reminded of the terrific horrors
of the past and present when too much trust was put in stereotypes
promulgated by authorities who themselves had engendered inordinate amounts
of trust (and if you didn't trust the consequences to yourself you could be
fairly certain of).

Unfortunatly, the only reliable method of determining the reliability of
authorities is by examination of the track record, and even then authorities
can deteriorate over time. But we have no choice, we need to trust people to
look after things we ourselves cannot attend to. Checks and balances must be
in place, or authority will be corrupted by its own power to dictate what is
'true'.

Consequent actions have to be weighted. You can't make momentous decisions
based on tenuous data, because if you're wrong great error or injustice will
ensue. What is the mechansism for determining the weight of authority, or
that of established stereotypes in the Semantic Web? How does one evaluate
the consequences of false actions taken; who has the authority to guide us
here?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bullard, Claude L (Len) [mailto:clbullar@ingr.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 12:23 PM
> To: John Cowan
> Cc: Danny Ayers; xml-dev@lists.xml.org
> Subject: RE: First Order Logic and Semantic Web RE: NPR, 
> Godel, Semantic
> W eb
> 
> 
> If you must.  I think we have a right to that 
> sort of thing but like so many rights we have, 
> we need to be able to afford justice.  I'm 
> not too hip on the "load a truck with nitrates 
> and get their attention" solutions.
> 
> Say, tempered by the right to access and dispute.  
> 
> What can you do if an entity steals your 
> identity?  The law has to provide a reasonable 
> path to the resolution.
> 
> I don't think the SW gets out of control as 
> long as assertions can be contested.  On the other 
> hand, that logic layer may become an obsession 
> for some prolog experts. 
> 
> But we don't need no stinkin' illuminati. :-)
> 
> Len
> http://www.mp3.com/LenBullard
> 
> Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti.
> Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Cowan [mailto:jcowan@reutershealth.com]
> 
> Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote:
> 
> 
> > The only truth is immediate.  The only justice individual. 
> > Unless you can negotiate and correct the Semantic Web, 
> > don't build it.  It becomes a Golem.  If you understand 
> > the legend, you understand the problem and the solution.
> 
> Despotism tempered by Dynamite?
> 
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