RE: [xml-dev] web services stack [data + context = information]

You might want to take a look at the concept of Boltzman entropy 
and relate that to Shannon's concepts on network messaging; then 
the notion of ontological commitment (when you can't be certain 
but you can test observables).

Sowa and Peirce before him point out that a problem with rules 
based system, theorem provers and the like is the certainty of 
the primitive assumptions.  As my logic teacher taught, logic 
will let you determine the validity/consistency of assertions, 
but not their truth.

len

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Lowery [mailto:]

Usability of data is probably equal to the inverse squared of its certainty 
I'm just guessing; I wonder if anyone has tried to quantify the usefulness 
of uncertain assumptions?  Bayes comes to mind.