Fuzzy Set Theory: Foundations and Applications
Since the early 1990s, literature on fuzzy set theory and its various applications has been rapidly growing. Hundreds of books on this subject are now available on the market. Most of them are either edited collections of papers on various themes or monographs on special topics. Textbooks on fuzzy set theory are still rather rare, in spite of the growing need for such textbooks at all levels of higher education.This book, Fuzzy Set Theory: Foundations and Applications, is intended to fill a particular gap in the literature. Its aim is to serve as a textbook for a general course in undergraduate liberal arts and sciences programs. This aim is reflected in the content of the book and the style in which it is written.As the title of the book suggests, it is a simple introduction to basic elements of fuzzy set theory. However, it also contains an overview of the corresponding elements of classical set theory, including basic ideas of classical relations, as well as an overview of classical logic. The emphasis is on conceptual rather than theoretical presentation of the material.We hope the text will help to develop undergraduate courses in which students will be exposed at an early stage of their studies to basic ideas of the increasingly important fuzzy set theory. The course may already be offered at the freshman or sophomore levels. It may be viewed as a meaningful replacement and enrichment of a typical course on the basics of classical set theory and classical logic, which is often required in undergraduate liberal arts and sciences programs.Since the text is intended for a general course and not a course oriented to majors in any particular discipline, it covers only the most fundamental concepts of fuzzy set theory. Various special topics, particularly relevant to some disciplines, are not covered. Examples are chosen, by and large, from daily life. The broad applicability of fuzzy set theory in many areas of human affairs is surveyed but not covered in detail. Only a few examples of applications are covered, chosen again from daily life.For further study of fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic, the graduate text Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic: Theory and Applications by G.J. Klir and B. Yuan (Prentice Hall, 1995) offers the most natural continuation of this undergraduate text. The main advantage is that both books use the same terminology and notation.We expect that any shortcomings of this text, caused either by its content or its style, will emerge from its use in various classroom environments. We intend to identify them, hopefully with the help of instructors and students using the text, and make appropriate revisions at some time in the future. For this purpose, we welcome any suggestions from instructors, students, or other readers of the book.Lastly, we would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Deborah Stungis for reading the entire manuscript of this book and for providing us with many useful comments, as well as to Ms. Yin Pan for composing parts of the book and contributing to various technical issues.George J. Klir, Ute St.Clair, and Bo YuanBinghamton, New YorkJune 1996