Re: [xml-dev] The universality of "single starting point"

[Steve Newcomb <srn@coolheads.com>]

(1) Gerard Manley Hopkins, "On a Piece of Music":

          "How all's to one thing wrought!"

(2) Similarly, it is always obvious, at least to me, that I am the one
true center of the universe.

(3) Every topic in a topic map is the one-and-only subject conversation
to which all (all in that topic) is wrought.  In a well-done topic map,
from the perspective of any topic, everything that's visible appears to
be "wrought to" -- playing a supporting role for -- its one-and-only
subject of conversation.  It is the center of a universe.

(4) But... nothing can be grasped from a single perspective.
Understanding that no matter where we stand, things look different from
other positions, is the beginning of wisdom.  Maybe that's why I find
Topic Maps so appealing.  I'm impatient with single-perspective information.

(N.B. My definition of "topic map" differs from almost every other.  It
has nothing to do with syntax, except that interchange requires *some*
syntax.)

On 11/23/2013 11:50 AM, Costello, Roger L. wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> 1. Formal grammars require that a single symbol be the starting point for all productions. For example, the starting symbol is S in this grammar:
> 
> 	S -> a Q a
> 	Q -> ...
> 
> 2. Structured programming tells us that every function should have a single entry point.
> 
> 3. XML has a single starting point - the root element
> 
> Wow! I see this concept of a single starting point everywhere I look. Above I have provided three occurrences. Would you provide other occurrences please?
> 
> /Roger
> 
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