Fuzzy Thinking Research Articles

The Islamic-Israelite World

This essay applies the concept of “fuzzy thinking” to geopolitics, using a curious turn of phrase in a 1914 policy paper (“the Islamic-Israelite world”) to explore paradoxes of German strategy in World War I. To find the origins of this phrase, the article explores the language of prewar Orientalism, especially the potent German variety that was notoriously neglected by Edward Said in his 1979 study decrying Orientalism as the handmaiden of European imperialism. But many prominent German Orientalists were also ignored in Robert Irwin's recent book-length critique of Said's Orientalism, despite the centrality of the German case to Irwin's argument. Just as Said ignored scholarly titans of the German-speaking world such as Carl Heinrich Becker, Ignaz Goldziher, and Theodore Nöldeke — presumably because Germany, unlike France and Britain, never colonized Islamic lands in the Middle East — so, too, did Irwin ignore more worldly German Orientalists such as Max von Oppenheim and Curt Prüfer, whose covert activities on behalf of Berlin did not fit his own counterthesis that Orientalism, pace Said, “in its most important aspect was founded upon academic drudgery.” The “hack” German Orientalists who concocted a Turco-German “jihad” against the Entente Powers in World War I — accompanied by a simultaneous plan to unleash Zionism to destroy tsarist Russia — may not have been scholars of the highest caliber, which helps explain how they could tolerate a fuzzy phrase like “the Islamic-Israelite world.” The essay concludes that, nevertheless, we may learn from and even be inspired by their ideas, however illusory these proved to be in practice.

Some Perspectives to Define and Model Reliability Using Fuzzy Sets

ABSTRACT This article proposes a new framework to model the reliability for a component or system using the theory and methods of fuzzy sets. We propose to use a substitute or performance variable that is well understood by the customer to fuzzify the states of a component or system. We show that the proposed measures based on fuzzy thinking are more meaningful and customer-centric for reliability-related decision-making processes. The proposed fuzzy reliability measures are a generalization for the traditional binary and multistate reliability and can be used as an alternative for modeling the continuous-state behavior for systems that degrade over time.

HISTORY FROM WAY ABOVE

This contribution to part 4 of the Common Knowledge symposium “Fuzzy Studies: On the Consequence of Blur” shows how the reputedly radical position that history is not about eternal truths but about the creative construction of a convincing narrative of past events is not an argument of recent vintage. In the days when postmodernism was a technical term used mainly by scholars of art and architecture—and indeed, decades before then—professional historians were grappling with the incapacity of facts to write themselves into a universally satisfying, single version of history. Successive presidents of the American Historical Association such as Andrew Dickson White, Carl Becker, Charles Beard, and William McNeill admitted that writing history is a desperate attempt at pattern recognition in a fuzzy discipline. Pattern recognition is a tool, valuable as a stage in historical thinking, but destined ultimately to come undone. What remains, then, is fuzzy thinking. It can be a good thing, the article concludes, to let our thinking about history remain a blur or, at least, to bear in mind that any patterns we recognize in the past are liable to dissolve under a different light.

Splitting Hairs or Parsing Concepts, Fuzzy Thinking or Fuzzy Categories: Where Does Motivational Interviewing End and Client-centered Therapy Begin?

An increasingly robust debate is emerging about the role of equanimity, equipoise and equality of concepts in defining what constitutes motivational interviewing (MI) versus client-centered therapy. At the heart of this debate is whether a MI practitioner may remain neutral about a goal and still be practicing MI. After that point of agreement, the debate becomes increasingly complex and defuse. However, MI has never included in its definition that the clinician identifies a specific behavioral goal. Nor is this articulated in any of the principles. Instead, it seems to be an ad hoc explanation of what does and does not constitute MI practice in an effort to establish the boundaries of MI. It is clear that a lack of data and only a nascent theory of how MI works contribute to this problem, but it may also be issues of fuzzy thinking and fuzzy categories. An exploration of these areas suggests it is possible that a practitioner could be practicing MI and not have a specific behavioral goal, other than assisting the client in resolving ambivalence.

Clear up this fuzzy thinking on brain scans

France has banned commercial applications of brain imaging. So why approve its use in court, asks Olivier Oullier.

The effect of traditional Chinese fuzzy thinking on human resource practices in mainland China

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of traditional Chinese fuzzy thinking and its particular effects on human resource management (HRM) practices in mainland China.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews with practising managers and directors of Chinese companies were used to access the tacit message in HR practices cases and to capture the personal stories provided by Chinese managers with rich working experiences on HRM, in order to discover the cultural fundamentals beneath the surface of HR practices and so disclose their underlying significance. The data for the study were collected through in‐depth interviews with 21 top managers and HR managers in Chinese companies about the role of Chinese fuzzy thinking in Chinese HRM practices.FindingsThe results show that in HRM practices, the principle of Zhongyong significantly affects: preference in recruitment and selection practices; the preferred way of communication and negotiation; the relationship between superiors and subordinates and the relationship among employees; and the leadership styles.Research limitations/implicationsThe research limitation mainly lies in an insufficient sample size, undivided geographical area and inadequate classification of the Chinese enterprises.Originality/valueThis is the first paper of its kind to empirically investigate the effect of the ideal of Zhongyong, which the authors claim originates from Chinese traditional fuzzy thinking, on HRM practices in China.

Analysis of fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory on technology acceptance model

Traditional technology acceptance model (TAM) studies establish and verify the model of causal relationship between variables by factor analysis or structural equation modeling. However, some technology is highly complicated, not all respondents have thorough comprehension. Certain variables are not compatible with assumption of independence, and causal relationship cannot be analyzed accurately if mass samplings are difficult to obtain, resulting in mistaken conclusions. The study establishes TAM through the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, which considers the influences of inconformity between variables. Respondents may completely understand the technology, but may not adequately express it through limitations of mass sampling. Score quantification through traditional investigation asks respondents to make a choice from limited wordings in order to stress maximum attribution without considering the fuzzy thinking of humans, resulting in an imprecise summary. This study adopts the fuzzy DEMATEL method to calculate the causal relationship and level of mutual effect, building on the technology acceptance model by applying the Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) system, providing administrator references to improve promotion of new technology to solve complicated and difficult problems in practice. The example of Product Life Cycle Management adopted by the Taiwan optronics manufacturing industry is used to explain the application and effect of this theory. The research found that the influence is similar to the TAM2 model based on the fuzzy DEMATEL method. The major difference is the subjective standard ( X 5) did not affect the impression ( X 8), while the experience ( X 6) directly affects the purpose of use ( X 1) and the purpose of use ( X 3) which also affects useful knowledge ( X 2).

CHOQUET INTEGRAL–OWA BASED ADAPTIVE NEURAL FUZZY INFERENCE SYSTEM WITH APPLICATION

In order to solve the defects of consequent part expression in ANFIS model and several shortcomings in FIS, this paper presents a Choquet Integral–OWA based Fuzzy Inference System, known as AggFIS. This model has advantages in consequent part of fuzzy rule, universal expression of fuzzy inference operator and importance factor of each criteria and each rule, which is trying to establish fuzzy inference system that can fully reflect the essence of fuzzy logic and human thinking pattern. If we combine AggFIS with a feed forward-type neural network according to the basic principles of fuzzy neural network, we can obtain Choquet Integral–OWA based Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System, which is named Agg-ANFIS. We apply this Agg-ANFIS model into the evaluation of traffic level of service. The experimental results show that Choquet Integral–OWA based Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System (Agg-ANFIS) is a universal approximator because of its infinite approximating capability by training and can be used in complex systems modeling, analysis and prediction.

Effects of Benefits and Harms on Older Persons' Willingness to Take Medication for Primary Cardiovascular Prevention

Quality-assurance initiatives encourage adherence to evidenced-based guidelines based on a consideration of treatment benefit. We examined older persons' willingness to take medication for primary cardiovascular disease prevention according to benefits and harms. In-person interviews were performed with 356 community-living older persons. Participants were asked about their willingness to take medication for primary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) with varying benefits in terms of absolute 5-year risk reduction and varying harms in terms of type and severity of adverse effects. Most (88%) would take medication, providing an absolute benefit of 6 fewer persons with MI out of 100, approximating the average risk reduction of currently available medications. Of participants who would not take it, 17% changed their preference if the absolute benefit was increased to 10 fewer persons with MI, and, of participants who would take it, 82% remained willing if the absolute benefit was decreased to 3 fewer persons with MI. In contrast, large proportions (48%-69%) were unwilling or uncertain about taking medication with average benefit causing mild fatigue, nausea, or fuzzy thinking, and only 3% would take medication with adverse effects severe enough to affect functioning. Older persons' willingness to take medication for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is relatively insensitive to its benefit but highly sensitive to its adverse effects. These results suggest that clinical guidelines and decisions about prescribing these medications to older persons need to place emphasis on both benefits and harms.

Building Engineering Supplier Selection Based on Fuzzy Group Decision Information Aggregation

Material is the precondition for the implementation of building engineering project. Material procurement cycle and quality directly related to the progress and quality of building project, which is the effective protection of successful completion. Owing to many factors of uncertainty of decision-making environment and fuzzy thinking of decision-makers, the selection of building engineering supplier represents as group behavior selection process in fuzzy environment. Based on analysis on fuzzy group decision methods, the information representation method in fuzzy condition was introduced to present a kind of fuzzy information aggregation method. Application example of supplier selection of some building company shows that the method can reflect preference of enterprise on fuzzy and adequately consider each schema with proximity, which is a more practical approach for supplier selection.

Comparative media analysis: Why some fuzzy thinking might help. Applying fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to the personalization of mediated political communication

This article examines the benefits of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) for comparative media research. It shows the advantages of fuzzy set theoretic thinking in examining the causes of a major feature of contemporary political communication research, namely personalization. The article has three parts. The first is a critique of the method adopted by Hallin and Mancini, a generally laudable and highly influential recent contribution to comparative media analysis. The second is a brief introduction to fsQCA. The third demonstrates the method’s usefulness by investigating the personalized character of mediated political communication.

Developing an auto-tracking automated guided vehicle carrier using a wave-varied detecting method

Robots are widely used in modern industrial manufacturing, in households, in the entertainment sector, and in the security sector. In recent times, because of the increasing lifetime for old people, the concept of lifestyles of health and sustainability is prevailing. To facilitate a heavily loaded hand-carrier when aged people are travelling or working outside, an intelligent automated guided vehicle (AGV) is necessary. In this article, an intelligent and interactive AGV is developed. In order to develop the auto-tracking carrier for an AGV within an unlimited working space, a dynamic distance measuring system using the speed variation between a radio wave and an ultrasonic wave propagating in the air is adopted. The microchip PIC 18F452 is used as the control core. To facilitate the targeted functions, interactivity in conjunction with high quality sensors plays an essential role. By using a wireless transmitter (radio ray) and an ultrasonic transmitter on the user's waist angled towards the sensors at the front of the AGV, the distance between the user and the AGV can be calculated. To avoid colliding with a barrier, an ultrasonic transmitter is installed on both sides of the AGV. Subsequently, a controller based on fuzzy thinking will actuate the motor's motion enabling it to follow and dodge barriers. Consequently, a prototype AGV has been manufactured and successfully tested in the laboratory.

Review: God and Gold Britain, America and the Making of the Modern World

GOD AND GOLD Britain, America and Making ofthe Modern World Walter Russell Mead New York: Knopf, 2008. 449 pp, US$27.95 cl°m ISBN 978-0-375-41403-9In view ofthe author's interest in ideas and conviction that history is indeed relevant to analysis of current affairs, this reviewer is predisposed to find God and Gold: Britain, America, and Making ofthe Modern World to be of compelling interest. In an international relations field too often dominated by philistines, fuzzy thinking, and technocratic policy intellectuals, Walter Russell Mead, Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow in US foreign policy at Council on Foreign Relations, represents a style of thinking about the big picture that is somewhat rare in official Washington today. And chosen subject for his current book is nothing if not relevant to burning questions (yes!) of modernity, rise and fall of empires, and trajectory of historical forces in early 21st century.Sadly, author makes a hash of his opportunity. His argument, in brief, is that the Anglo-Saxons have dominated world over past three centuries because of their unique blend of capitalist democracy and Protestant religion at home, a largely benign hegemony abroad based on free trade, and an ingenious structure of international finance, and that all this has been undergirded strategically and militarily by sea power. This time-proven system, based on what Mead calls the protocols ofthe elders of Greenwich (360), should give us confidence - as against declinists like Paul Kennedy, late Samuel P. Huntington, and others - that the Anglo-Saxon ascendancy will continue into foreseeable future (271). For Americans chief lesson ofthe last three hundred years is easy to state as a principle, but much more difficult to put into practice, Mead writes. Here is lesson: plan works. Stick to plan. The 'protocols ofthe elders of Greenwich' are still best guide to grand strategy (361).In his conclusion Mead pulls out all stops. In a triumphalist trumpet voluntary, intellectual ornament of Council on Foreign Relations effuses that the values that have shaped Anglo-American world and by which Anglo-Americans have gone on to take lead in last three tumultuous centuries remain values that bring success... these values are leading us westward and upward... America will continue rushing forward, however steep slope or forbidding terrain, bearing banner with strange device: Excelsior! (413).All works of history, perhaps especially middle-brow renditions of history, inevitably reflect intellectual and political culture of era in which they are conceived and written. Whatever Mead's intention, passages quoted above insensibly reflect mindset of George W. Bush's America. They seem jarring, to say least, in Barack Obama's America of flamboyant multiculturali sm, international financial collapse, massive trade imbalances, economic distress at home, and highly problematic military adventures east of Suez, as an old-style American anglophile of Ivy League -educated kind might well express matter. Yet this reviewer has a hunch that Mead's deliberately archaic turns of phrase and anachronistic mindset will seem equally odd in today's multicultural London.Certainly Mead's reading of British history and of modern history generally is not likely to earn him an invitation to lecture at Oxford or Cambridge anytime soon. Mead laments that the study of British history and culture has almost vanished from American schools today, and that lamentation is no doubt sincere. Moreover Mead (like Paul Kennedy, Niall Ferguson, and even Simon Schama) is right to insist that Americans interested in world affairs should study closely history of Britain and of British empire. …

Uncertainties

In contemporary science uncertainty is often represented as an intrinsic feature of natural and of human phenomena. As an example we need only think of two important conceptual revolutions that occurred in physics and logic during the first half of the twentieth century: (1) the discovery of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics; (2) the emergence of many-valued logical reasoning, which gave rise to so-called 'fuzzy thinking'. I discuss the possibility of applying the notions of uncertainty, developed in the framework of quantum mechanics, quantum information and fuzzy logics, to some problems of political and social sciences.

Mapping Pain Generators for Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Mapping Pain Generators for Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Introduction to Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic, and Fuzzy Control Systems

<i>Introduction to Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic, and Fuzzy Control Systems</i>

Carleton B. Chapman, MD, MPH

Carleton B. Chapman, who made important contributions in 4 areas of medicine, died in Hanover, New Hampshire, on December 10, 2000. These areas included cardiovascular medicine and research, medical education, philanthropy, and medical history and ethics. His career can be separated temporally into periods when he focused on each of these areas, although he was active in all of them throughout his career. Dr Chapman was born on June 11, 1915, in Sycamore, Alabama (the same small community that produced Tinsley Harrison). He attended public schools in Talladega and graduated from Talladega High School. He was a precociously talented concert organist during his school years, and he seriously considered a career in music. Although he ultimately chose medicine, he maintained his passion for playing the organ throughout his life. He entered Davidson College in 1932 as a liberal arts major, where he became President of the Student Body and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. By the time of his graduation in 1936, he had developed an interest in human physiology, which he pursued at Oxford University after being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. As a student of St Johns College, Oxford, from 1936 to 1939, he received his BA and MA degrees in Physiology. During that time, he worked with the famous respiratory and exercise physiologist Professor C.G. Douglas. He returned to the United States in 1939 and completed medical school at Harvard, where he received his MD in 1941 and his MPH in 1944. His training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology was received at Boston City Hospital from 1941 to 1944. From 1944 to 1946, he was in the Public Health Service and was stationed first in the Middle East and then in China and Indonesia. In 1946, he returned to Harvard and did a second …

Some Speculation on the Future of the Body and Soul

Some Speculation on the Future of the Body and Soul

Foreman FOR Every MAN: Pearls for Pigs

In Lava, a Richard Foreman play, Foreman's own voice says, as if he is talking to himself, "I understand you're looking for an excuse for a lot of fuzzy thinking." Foreman tries to deflect criticism of his thinking by admitting that his work relies on the revelatory possibilities of contradiction: he does not need to resolve the paradoxical world in which he lives. But we must ask whether Foreman's acknowledgement of his "fuzziness" really absolves us of scrutinizing him. My view is that it does not. In this paper I shall rigorously trace Foreman's thinking, despite his desire that we refrain from thinking too hard about his "message" and despite his wish that we should occasionally abandon "mental rigor" for the sake of allowing ourselves to experience inspiration.

Indigenous Sociologies

This article reopens a debate launched approximately a decade ago on the links between indigenous sociologies and internationalization of sociology and the sociology of one world. The author extends the `scope of the argument' regarding problems of indigenous sociology by re-examining the issues of the asuwada principle, the notion of asuwada eniyan, the concepts of ajobi and ajogbe as forms of sociation, and the logic of fuzzy thinking in the development of indigenous sociology.