This document discusses different ontological perspectives on the design of learning management systems (LMS). It first outlines Rene Descartes' Cartesian worldview, which sees the world consisting of extended substances (objects) and thinking substances (minds) that form representations. It then outlines Martin Heidegger's view, where objects only exist when used and are defined by their use within practices. The document argues Cartesian views have traditionally informed LMS design but a Heideggerian view could help design for how an LMS is fluidly used within learning practices rather than as a detached object.