A Theory of Granular Partitions

In M. Duckham, M. F. Goodchild & M. F. Worboys (eds.), Foundations of Geographic Information Science. London: Taylor & Francis. pp. 117-151 (2003)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

We have a variety of different ways of dividing up, classifying, mapping, sorting and listing the objects in reality. The theory of granular partitions presented here seeks to provide a general and unified basis for understanding such phenomena in formal terms that is more realistic than existing alternatives. Our theory has two orthogonal parts: the first is a theory of classification; it provides an account of partitions as cells and subcells; the second is a theory of reference or intentionality; it provides an account of how cells and subcells relate to objects in reality. We define a notion of well-formedness for partitions, and we give an account of what it means for a partition to project onto objects in reality. We continue by classifying partitions along three axes: (a) in terms of the degree of correspondence between partition cells and objects in reality; (b) in terms of the degree to which a partition represents the mereological structure of the domain it is projected onto; and (c) in terms of the degree of completeness with which a partition represents this domain.

Links

PhilArchive

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Analytics

Added to PP
2012-11-25

Downloads
359 (#33,996)

6 months
42 (#38,060)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Barry Smith
State University of New York, Buffalo
Thomas Bittner
State University of New York, Buffalo

References found in this work

Tractatus logico-philosophicus.Ludwig Wittgenstein - 1922 - Filosoficky Casopis 52:336-341.
Parts of Classes.David K. Lewis - 1991 - Mind 100 (3):394-397.
Intentionality.J. Searle - 1983 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 49 (3):530-531.

View all 17 references / Add more references