Is Fuzzy Set Theory Realistic?

Abstract

Having discussed various fuzzy set theories, it is reasonable to ask whether any of them have a sound basis in either philosophical reasoning or psychological reality. On the one hand, philosophical considerations are necessary in order for fuzzy set theory to be useful in theory building or data analysis. While those applications do not always require that fuzzy set theory mirror what “ordinary” people do when they construe categories and their elements, they do require that fuzzy set theory not contain logical contradictions or violations of strong intuitions. On the other hand, the question of whether fuzzy set theory reflects psychological reality arises in the context of theories of prototypes, the construction or manipulation of categories by ordinary people, and certain aspects of perception.