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Hierarchy of entities |
Note 1: The word 'artefact' may also be spelled 'artifact'. The word 'artefact' is derived from the two Latin words 'arte' and 'factum' meaning 'skill' and 'deed' respectively. Artefacts are thus "things made through somebody's skill". In analogy with the rather common term 'artefact' this report introduces two new terms: 'biofact' and 'cosmofact'. There Latin 'bio' stands for 'life' and the Greek term 'kosmos' with Latin spelling 'cosmos' stands for The Universe. It is fair enough to use an older language for an older entity!
Note 2: This model of "every thing" is inclusive. People are biological beings. Artefacts are products of human culture, in the widest sense of that word. Also, artefacts are products from biological beings, and thus they are biofacts, even if made from minerals only. Minerals on site are generally cosmofacts only, like granite, with exceptions like limestone. Limestone and petroleum are biofacts, because they could not have been made without living beings. The most primitive entities and the most complex entities we know are all cosmofacts - products of Cosmos.
Note 3: The human mind includes abilities for abstraction, planning and innovation. The human mind is to a certain extent able to formulate and implement moral responsibilities, both at the individual level and the cultural level. But, global political structures are artefacts with no biological support. Evolution did not supply protection against evil artefacts. We have to protect ourselves and the biosphere against the dangers of such constructs, whether they are concrete artefacts like waste uranium or abstract artefacts like genetic technology.
Entity
Meaning Examples Cosmofact Created by a cosmic process, possibly by a biological process, possibly in an artificial process an atom, a mineral, a quantity of water, a pebble, a mountain, a continent, the Atlantic, the Moon, the Solar System, each element of Micro-cosmos, the first RNA or DNA molecule that could reproduce itself Biofact Created by a biological process, possibly in an artificial process a DNA molecule, an RNA molecule, a protein, a herb, an animal, an organ of an animal, a bird's nest Artefact Created in an artificial process a piece of art, an industrial product, the Eiffel Tower, a musical performance
Modified: 2000-11-17