RE: [xml-dev] What is Data?

["Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>]

> > My objective is to merely make plain the fundamental ideas 
> > which guide the formation of the science. 

> I don't think that's possible.  I strongly suspect that any brief 
> definition will cause more confusion and harm than good.

What does that say about a field where it is not possible to make plain the fundamental ideas which guide the field?

/Roger