Semiosis & Sign Exchange

design for a subjective situationism, including conceptual grounds of business information modeling

Pieter Wisse

prelude 1

Every chapter is preceded by a short explanation of its contribution to my overall design. These preludes help you navigate the treatise. For my acknowledgements see the Postscript.

So, Prelude 1 is where I explain how Chapter 1 fits in. For introducing the Introduction, I first offer a quotation from Reality Construction in Society by B. Holzner (1968, p 14):

Frames of reference influence our perception, but even more they influence our interpretation of what we see, and the formulation of plans of action. Given a frame of reference, which directs our attention to a particular range of possible experiences, and equips us with methods of relating what we find to other knowledge, we do indeed feel that we discover reality, since we cannot vary our perceptions at will. Yet, we can vary the frame of reference and discover still different aspects of the actuality before us. It is, then, useful to describe the cognitive process as if it were an active process of reality construction on the part of the experiencing subject. When, finally, we formulate in some symbolic system or language what we have experienced, the resulting symbolic representation contains the residues of so many active transformations of the original experience, that we are entirely justified in calling it a “reality construct.”

A conceptual information model is a “reality construct,” too. Its relevance strongly varies according to the “frame of reference” applied by the modeler. This treatise presents – a design for – a different frame of reference for conceptual information modeling. I believe – see Chapter 2 for the Peircean concept of belief I adopt – that indeed it helps significantly to “discover still different aspects of the actuality before us.” And of course those aspects are not just different. The point of this treatise is that they are more relevant for conceptual models as “plans of action” for realizing successful information systems & services.

The Introduction prepares you for what to expect from the rest of the treatise. Holzner’s concept of frame of reference is termed an ontology in my vocabulary. In the Introduction (Chapter 1) you will therefore find my announcement of an ontological design. It is what underlies modeling practice and thereby specific models. My theoretical design treats as especially relevant the themes of multiplicity and subjectivity. The resulting ontology I have labeled subjective situationism. If you want, you may also read it as subjectivist situationism.

I feel motivated – see Chapter 6 for the Schopenhauerean concept of motive I adopt – to apply a personal writing style. It rests on the special attention subjectivity requires. In Chapter 1 I also suggest some other adjustments to your expectations. My aim is that you should even increase your appreciation of this treatise as a piece of serious science writing. Openness to multidisciplinary influences is a first prerequisite.

Subjective situationism itself is documented from Chapter 2 on.

 

 

2002, web edition 2005 © Pieter Wisse

 

 

table of contents; corresponding chapter; next prelude.