Faceted classification, analysis and search: Some questions on their interrelations

A description is provided of basic faceted classification, which involves combinations of foci across facets, where the foci within a facet are dependent (i.e., exclusive) and the foci across facets are independent (i.e., orthogonal). This is shown to be suitable for organizing the basic goods that Amazon, the online retailer, sells and for progressive filtering as a mode of search. However, on closer inspection, the Amazon case involves a sorted domain. This is problematic for basic faceted classification. Additionally, books from Amazon would typically carry subject classification, which also is difficult for basic faceted classification. It does not support filtering as a mode of search. Subject classification really requires relatively sophisticated linguistic and logical constructors and modifiers, such as adjectives, adverbs, functions, binary relations, and transitive verbs. These can be part of a synthetic subject classification scheme, but they pose a challenge for faceting.