[comp.ai.digest] Structure, Function, and Intention

Laws@STRIPE.SRI.COM (Ken Laws) (07/29/87)

Minsky's initial message described function (of a chair) in terms
of intended use.  I don't believe he elaborated, but it seems
obvious that it could be either the designer of the chair or the
user who provides the intention.  (For instance, a chair designed
for one person does not become a couch just because two kids sit
on it at the same time.)  Semantic classification thus requires
at least three viewpoints: structure, intended function, and
perceived or implemented function.

					-- Ken
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