What is the semantics meaning of 'object'?

[Mark Janssen]

>>> Combining two integers lets you make a Rational.
>>
>> Ah, but what is going to group them together?  You see you've already
>> gotten seduced.  Python already uses a set to group them together --
>> it's called a Dict and it's in every Class object.
>
> When you inherit a "set" to make a Rational, you're making the
> statement (to the interpreter, if nothing else) that a Rational is-a
> set.

No you don't *inherit* a set to make a Rational, although you gain a
set to make it.  It's a subtle thing, because at the center of it
articulates the very difference between a piece of data and a
container to hold that data.  Or is the container the data?

C++ already solves this di-lemma.  It made "class" which is exactly
like a "struct", but hides all it's data members.  That critical
distinction makes all the difference.  I don't know how many people on
the list really appreciate it.

-- 
MarkJ
Tacoma, Washington