Re: SUO: On the supreme supertype
In mathematics, there is another tradition that solves this
problem: the two "thumbtack symbols". The top one looks like
a san-serif letter T, and the bottom one looks like an upside
down T. Those are the two symbols used for the top and bottom
of a lattice, and those are the ones that I used for the top
and bottom of all the lattices in my 1984 book and my 2000 book.
Those symbols have the advantage of being language-neutral,
international, and traditional in mathematics. The primary
objection is that many people wanted a pronounceable word
for them. So I suggested Entity as a synonym for T, which
is much more international than "thing".
>>On further thought, I'd like to suggest a different possible name for the
>>supreme supertype, other than "thing" or "entity" which seem to be
>>traditional...
>>
>>Perhaps a better word for the supreme supertype could be "referent", meaning
>>that which can be referenced.
The word "referent" is already widely used for a particular
that is being referred to in any particular sentence. It would
be confusing to use it for the supreme universal of all
universals.
An even more traditional term is "Supreme Genus", which has
been used for over 600 years for the top level of the Tree
of Porphyry.
But I would suggest the more neutral T. Those people who feel
a need to verbalize it can say "top type".
John Sowa