I wrote: > Note the left tine of the capped fork was called literally zero times. > Meaning its definition is not used.
Raul responded: > I would phrase this as "Meaning the implementation is not used". > Or, even better "Meaning the implementation is not executed". In a draft, I had originally written "Meaning its definition is irrelevant". I think that sums it up. I wrote: > Meaning (when not used to cap a fork) it is arbitrary. > Meaning it could be anything. Meaning its domain doesn't > have to be empty. Raul responded: > Hypothetically, maybe. But this creates problems of > the sort I think you are specifically claiming you > want to avoid, and also conflicts with the dictionary. > So I am not going to agree with you here. Actually, I think you are agreeing. In case it is unclear, I am not advocating changing the definition of [: . The opposite, in fact: I am indicating that this is a risk, that while hypothetical, exists, and to a greater degree than for other verbs for the reasons previously presented ([:'s definition came second, not first). The policy I've adopted immunizes me to such changes. > Here (with [:) we have an example of introducing something of > theoretical interest (a verb with an empty domain) and also > introducing a use for it. The point is it's the other way around: the concept of capped fork was introduced, and so [: was supplied to realize it. What I'm trying to emphasize is that [: is not special. It is ([: f g) which is special! Cap is the least special verb in the whole Vocabulary. The policy I've adopted highlights this fact. > Sometimes other issues (bugs, or the precision issues that might be > treated by numerical analysis) can be seen. Everything we discuss re J is modulo bugs, unless we constrain ourselves to the Platonic J embodied in the DoJ. Precision issues are again not grammatically anomalous, and in fact could also be considered semantically transparent, if we hold numbers to be analytic (or constrain our discussion to Platonic J). -Dan ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
