ONT Re: Zeroth Order Theories (ZOT's)
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We have seen how the Model function and the mod output format
indicate all of the complete specifications of objects in the
universe of discourse, that is, all of the consistent feature
conjunctions of maximal specificity that are permitted by the
constraints or the definitions that are given in the log file.
To help identify these specifications of particular cells in
the universe of discourse, the next function and output format,
called "Tenor", edits the mod file to give only the true paths,
in effect, the "positive models", that are by default what we
usually mean when we say "models", and not the "anti-models"
or the "negative models" that fail to satisfy the formula
in question.
In the present Example the Tenor function
generates a ten file that looks like this:
Tenor Output and
Ten File Example
o-------------------o
| male |
| (female ) |
| (girl ) |
| child |
| boy |
| human * | <1>
| (child ) |
| (boy ) * | <2>
| (male ) |
| female |
| (boy ) |
| child |
| girl |
| human * | <3>
| (child ) |
| (girl ) * | <4>
o-------------------o
As I said, the Tenor function just abstracts a transcript of the models,
that is, the satisfying interpretations, that were already interspersed
throughout the complete Model output. These specifications, or feature
conjunctions, with the positive and the negative features listed in the
order of their actual budding on the "arboreal boolean expansion" twigs,
may be gathered and arranged in this antherypulogical flowering bouquet:
1. male (female ) (girl ) child boy human *
2. male (female ) (girl ) (child ) (boy ) *
3. (male ) female (boy ) child girl human *
4. (male ) female (boy ) (child ) (girl ) *
Notice that Model, as reflected in this abstract, did not consider
the six positive features in the same order along each path. This
is because the algorithm was designed to proceed opportunistically
in its attempt to reduce the original proposition through a series
of case-analytic considerations and the resulting simplifications.
Notice, too, that Model is something of a lazy evaluator, quitting work
when and if a value is determined by less than the full set of variables.
This is the reason why paths <2> and <4> are not ostensibly of the maximum
length. According to this lazy mode of understanding, any path that is not
specified on a set of features really stands for the whole bundle of paths
that are derived by freely varying those features. Thus, specifications
<2> and <4> summarize four models altogether, with the logical choice
between "human" and "not human" being left open at the point where
they leave off their branches in the releavent deciduous tree.
Jon Awbrey
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