Why graphs? The limits of hierarchical thinking

Why would a taxonomist interrogate the limitations of hierarchical thinking and information organization? Graphs offer more specific and flexible structures to model relationships between objects. This basic change of frame reflects more accurately the way humans understand information, provides flexible and extensible modelling options, and usurps existing (tree-based, or arboreal) power and information structures in favour of a decentralized, democratized information environment with no beginning and no end.

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Bob Kasenchak is a taxonomist and ontologist at Factor, an information architecture consultancy, interested in knowledge graphs and Linked Data.