Fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic in the human sciences

Michael Smithson*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The development of fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic provided an opportunity for the human sciences to incorporate a mathematical framework with attractive properties. The potential applications include using fuzzy set theory as a descriptive model of how people treat categorical concepts, employing it as a prescriptive framework for “rational” treatment of such concepts, and as a basis for analysing graded membership response data from experiments and surveys. However, half a century later this opportunity still has not been fully grasped. This chapter surveys the history of fuzzy set applications in the human sciences, and then elaborates the possible reasons why fuzzy set concepts have been relatively under-utilized therein.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationStudies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing
    PublisherSpringer Verlag
    Pages175-186
    Number of pages12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Publication series

    NameStudies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing
    Volume341
    ISSN (Print)1434-9922

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic in the human sciences'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this