Are data types universal modelling concepts for data base systems?

Abstract

Modelling encompasses two intellectual tasks: (1) the perception of some reality and (2) the representation of the perceived reality in accordance to a given model (obviously is a representation once again some kind of reality and hence subject to another representation in accordance to another model or notation). Because of human beings limited capabilities to perceive and completely and correctly represent reality any representation is an abstraction of the reality. A representation in accordance to a given model is of course constrained by that model. Any facet of reality not representable with the model cannot be represented at all. Moreover any model constrains at the very same time the perception capabilities as well. Experience verifies that knowledge of a model tends to force the modeller to model according to this model even though it may not result in the most accurate representation. These two facts speak against an universal model but makes for a variety of models for different purposes. It is common practice for the representation of the reality in data bases to apply different models for the conceptual description of data bases or to apply different kinds of models for the physical description of data bases, etc.