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Categories and Facets in Integrative Levels

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Abstract

Facets and general categories used in bibliographic classification have been based on a disciplinary organization of knowledge. However, facets and categories of phenomena independent from disciplines can be identified similarly. Phenomena can be classified according to a series of integrative levels (layers), which in turn can be grouped into the major strata of form, matter, life, mind, society and culture, agreeing with Nicolai Hartmann’s ontology. Unlike a layer, a stratum is not constituted of elements of the lower ones; rather, it represents the formal pattern of the lower ones, like the horse hoof represents the shape of the steppe. Bibliographic categories can now be seen in the light of level theory: some categories are truly general, while others only appear at a given level, being the realization of a general category in the specific context of the level: these are the facets of that level. In the notation of the Integrative Level Classification project, categories and facets are represented by digits, and displayed in a Web interface with the help of colours.

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  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Claudio Gnoli

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  1. Claudio Gnoli
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Correspondence to Claudio Gnoli.

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Gnoli, C. Categories and Facets in Integrative Levels. Axiomathes 18, 177–192 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10516-007-9022-z

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