
#========================#
# axiomatic propositions #
#                        #
# Richard H. McCullough  #
# Jun/27/2002            #
#========================#
#
# Reference:
# Ayn Rand, "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology",
# Expanded Second Edition, Meridian, 1990.
#
#
# Rand describes three axiomatic concepts:
# existence, identity, consciousness.
# Her discussion can be neatly summarized
# using KR:

	existent is existent
	entity, characteristic isa existent
	entity has characteristic

	man isa entity
	man has consciousness
	man do sense od existent done

# Adding in the implied propositions (with some
# refinement of characteristic)

	attribute, action, relation isa characteristic
	consciousness isa attribute
	sense isa action
	"is", "isa" isa relation
	"has", "do od done" isa relation

# we get the total set of axiomatic propositions.
# This total context, or "view", can be conveniently
# displayed as an entity-characteristic-proposition
# hierarchy:

    existent
        entity
            man
        characteristic
            attribute
                consciousness
            action
                sense
            relation
		"is"
                "has"
		"do od done"
		"isa"
        proposition
            { entity has characteristic }
            { man has consciousness }
            { man do sense od existent done }


# Note that the hierarchy

	existent
	    entity
	    characteristic

# is equivalent to the three propositions

	{ existent is existent }
	{ entity isa existent }
	{ characteristic isa existent }

# Seeing where Rand's axiomatic concepts of existence, identity
# and consciousness fit into the picture is more difficult.
# From my current perspective, I consider those three concepts
# to be different views of the set of axiomatic propositions.
# Here are my best interpretations of Rand's three views
# (leaving out the implied propositions):

	at view=existence {
	    existent
		entity
		characteristic
		{ entity has characteristic }
	}

	at view=identity {
	    existent
		{ entity isa existent }
		{ characteristic isa existent }
		{ entity has characteristic }
	}

	at view=consciousness {
		man isa entity
		man has consciousness
		man do sense od existent done
	}

When Rand says that

	existence is identity

she means that these two views subsume the same propositions.
