Re: [topicmaps-comment] Notions have existence .....

["Thomas B. Passin" <tpassin@home.com>]

[Lars Marius Garshol]
>
> * Thomas B. Passin
> |
> | I decided some time ago to finesse this philosophical question by
> | deciding to ACT AS IF notions exist as virtual entities at least for
> | some duration.
>
> Actually, I think there's another way to see this that makes it much
> clearer: does the concept have an existence, apart from any real-world
> entity to which it may or may not correspond?
>
> To put it another way: does the notion "Frodo Baggins" exist? I think
> the answer can only be "yes, it does". Does the person Frodo Baggins
> exist? Again, the answer is clear: "no, he does not".
>

Ah, but does the notion "Frodo Baggins" exist apart from Lars and other
people, leading a shadowy Platonic existence of its own?  That's the
question I've agreed to dodge!

Cheers,

Tom P