Subclasses equal instances, thanks to statistical databases

Abstract

The Enterprise is an aircraft carrier. An aircraft carrier is a ship. Is the relationship of the concept “Enterprise” to the concept “aircraft carrier” the same as the relationship of “aircraft carrier” to “ship”? Many researchers in artificial intelligence say no, calling the first an “instance” or “element” relationship, the second a “subclass” or “a kind of” relationship (e.g., Winston p.258). But I disagree—I think the two relationships are exactly the same. That's a controversial statement, but in fact, I'll take an even stranger stand here: I claim that statistical databases have something to do with it.