Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
13.2.Thetwobranches[Naturalobject]and[Objectofvalue]
The branch of the ASW vocabulary of conceptual terms which is based on the
conceptual term [Object “Endurant”] (see Figure 12.2 in section 12.5), refers to the
set of objects, systems or collections of objects from the “natural” or social world.
To borrow a distinction from Searle [SEA 95], it refers, on the one hand, to objects
and events with
intrinsic features
and, on the other, to objects which only possess
their features
in reference to a observer
, which, as Greimas said a long time ago
[GRE 76; GRE 79], are
objectsofvalue
(relative to a
subject
).
Thus, for instance,
diamond
possesses “natural” features which are “intrinsic” to
it and which are independent of human beings. These features include, for example,
the fact that it is made of carbon, possesses a certain crystalline structure, has
specific physical properties, etc. However, the fact that diamond is a
highly sought-
after object in industry and in jewelry
(thus, the fact that it is an
object of value
), for
which people do not hesitate to part with enormous sums of money, and are
sometimes prepared to accept the very worst humanitarian compromises to obtain, is
obviously not an intrinsic property of the mineral. The fact of being highly sought
after (because it is
veryrareand“therefore”sociallydistinctive
,
beautiful,precious
,
useful
,
indispensable
, etc.) qualifies diamond as a
physical object with a particular
status
in reference to this industry or that social group.
1
In order to reflect this distinction, the branch [Object “Endurant”] is divided into
two main sub-branches: the sub-branch which begins with the conceptual term
[Natural object] and the sub-branch which begins with the conceptual term [Object
of value].
As Figure 13.1 shows, the branch of conceptual terms based on the term
[Natural object] is constructed around two main
taxa
- the taxon [Non-living object]
and the taxon [Living object]. The former contains conceptual terms for describing
topics referring to the world of inanimate object and systems thereof, including
particularly (in our case), those referring to the main natural elements of everyday
life, such as
minerals
,
metals
,
sediments
but also
water
,
fire
,
air
or
earth
. The latter
contains conceptual terms for describing topics thematizing such-and-such a species
of
flora
or
fauna
, such-and-such a
physiologicalorgan
, such-and-such an
ecosystem
,
etc.
1 Let us note in passing that the term
object of value
merely expresses the fact that the object
plays a
certainrole
for the subject-observer, possesses a
certainfunction
for an agent who has
intentional capacity. Of course, a material object does not necessarily become an
object of
value
by virtue of its rarity or high price: in its function as a
construction material
, the most
ordinary of stones is probably an
object of more appreciable value
than the Blue Diamond of
the Crown of France (also known as the French Blue).
