Laws and partial values (was: [Haskell-cafe] mapM_ -> Monoid.Monad.map)

[roconnor at theorem.ca]

On Fri, 23 Jan 2009, Derek Elkins wrote:

> mempty `mappend` undefined = undefined (left identity monoid law)
> The above definition doesn't meet this, similarly for the right identity
> monoid law.  That only leaves one definition, () `mappend` () = () which
> does indeed satisfy the monoid laws.
>
> So the answer to the question is "Yes."  Another example of making
> things as lazy as possible going astray.

I'd like to argue that laws, such as monoid laws, do not apply to partial 
values.  But I haven't thought my position through yet.

-- 
Russell O'Connor                                      <http://r6.ca/>
``All talk about `theft,''' the general counsel of the American Graphophone
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