Fuzzy Thinking: The New Science of Fuzzy Logic

by Bart Kosko (Author)

54 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0006547136

ISBN-10: 0006547133

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Fuzzy logic is the next wave in technology. Japanese electronics giants have, in the last ten years, already staked their commercial future on the benefits of fuzzy production; only recently have European and US companies begun to catch up. Fuzzy logic sanctifies vagueness. It prescribes a new way of thinking about machines, about science, ambiguity, confusion and contradiction.

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Product Details

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Flamingo (October 10, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0006547133
ISBN-13: 978-0006547136
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,784,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #399 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Set Theory
- #1769 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Logic
- #24742 in Books > Computers & Technology > Software

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Customer Reviews

2.9 out of 5 stars

5 star		19%
4 star		30%
3 star		9%
2 star		9%
1 star		33%

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Top Customer Reviews

New Perspective on Logic and Science

ByJohn Rolstonon June 14, 2000

Format: Paperback

Kosko struggles to articulate the upcoming paradigm shift from Aristotelian logic to multivalent Fuzzy Logic in the world of commercial technology. He does a good job of explaining the concepts behind the "new" field of fuzzy thinking, but has a hard time expressing the mathematics of it. To give him credit, though, he had to write a book understandable by the lay, and therefore couldn't get too in depth with his equations. But if you have any background in calculus, you'll have no trouble learning from the footnotes.
Aside from the introduction to fuzzy logic, Kosko dips into his personal life to talk about his contributions to the field. I found his digressions extremely interesting and his views enlightening. It's important to take a lot of what he says with a grain of salt, however (he likes to wax philosophical perhaps more than is appropriate), but he is an amiable character nonetheless.
Overall, this is a good read. It's informative not only scientifically, but philosophically as well. Kosko's style is engaging, although too heroic in some passages, and thorough. Because of its controversial nature, some readers may find it offensive. But if you don't mind entertaining alternative opinions and don't mind suspending tendencies for dismissing foreign ideas (which a lot of the people who gave this book bad reviews couldn't apparently handle), you'll enjoy this book.

0Comment 26 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Fuzzy Primer Makes The Grade

ByAmazon Customeron October 7, 2000

Format: Paperback

Let me start with a little context. I'm a scientist/engineer, and I enjoy reading these popular science books as a primer to fields I'm not well versed in, but would like to know more about. For me, this book was less about philosophy and more about the history and underpinnings of fuzzy logic. From my viewpoint, this book fulfilled my objective. I now feel I have a sufficient introduction that I can dig deeper into this interesting topic. Will I? Absolutely. I believe there is much I can do with fuzzy logic in my day-to-day research, and I'm grateful to the author for making me aware of it.
What about the philosophical aspects of the book? The author clearly feels that western culture is hostile to the notion of fuzzy logic. I'll extend on that a little further. I think western science is hostile to new ideas in general, not just fuzzy logic. But, I will agree that it is for the same reason he cites. Western science tends to see every new idea as true or false. Since new ideas tend to contradict old ideas which have achieved the status of true, then new ideas by their very nature are instantly regarded as false. Only with the passage of much time or with overwhelming evidence does an old paradigm die. Eastern culture, by contrast, is not so quick to reject a new idea since "shades of gray" is woven into the culture. No wonder, then, that fuzzy logic has emerged in the east in real products while we still debate whether fuzzy logic exists.
Who should read this book? Definitely this is worthwhile for scientists and engineers of all stripes, but should be considered a must read for those involved in system engineering. Laypersons with a scientific interest will find this book to be accessible and will be rewarded for reading it. Others without a scientific interest may also find this book worthwhile since fuzzy logic is likely to become a technological force in the near future.
Rating is 4 stars. Good read, but I save 5 stars only for great literature.

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Buddha lite

BywiredweirdHALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERon June 4, 2004

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Buddhist math? C'mon.

First, let me say that fuzzy logic and fuzzy arithmetic are great tools. They're valued parts of the 'soft logic' kit that includes probability, interval arithmetic, Bayesian and Markov networks, and lots of other good stuff. Fuzziness involves many of the formal techniques used in probability and elsewhere, and gives a useful, alternative view of the systems it addresses.

The basic fuzzy idea is that most descriptions involve shades of gray, that few systems really match the black/white, on/off, either/or duality of standard formal logic. That's fine, I can get along with that quite well.

My problem, though, is that Kosko presents the fuzzy world-view vs. the traditional or "scientific" in exactly the black and white terms that he rejects. He also argues that fuzziness describes the world more effectively than "scientific" terms, that the rules of arithmetic, probability, and calculus are just games. They are played for their internal consistency, not because differentiation or factorials occur in nature.

That's true, and as a heavy math user I know enough to distinguish my models from reality. Two facts remain, though. First, the models very often do describe reality in ways that can be checked easily enough: the bridge doesn't fall down and the TV receives its signal. Both happen because the bad old exact arithmetic has some kind of correspondence (no, I don't know what) to the real world, giving real ability to predict real results. Second, fuzzy logic and fuzzy arithmetic are themselves mathematical formalisms, games like all the others. Once you get past the gee-whiz stage, there is mathematical content as rigorous as in any other field of study. It's not either/or, it's very often a different way to interpret the same self-consistent games people have played for years. It adds interesting rules to the game.

The great thing is that you really can use the new interpretations and tools along with the old ones. Fuzziness doesn't demolish the old structures, it bolsters them and adds capacity.

And you can get all these benefits without shrink-wrapped, bite-sized pieces of Eastern philosophy.

//wiredweird

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

One Star

The book in a bad condition，does not match the description

Published on October 13, 2014 by jinggao sun

Clear Writing About Fuzzy Thinking

Bart Kosko is the leading proponent of fuzzy logic. If you want to understand what all the fuss is about, read this book.

Published on March 7, 2014 by Richard H. Wachsman

One of my favorite books

Unique look at science and unique technology. A special field of applied mathematics, computer programming, and mechanical engineering. Must read.

Published on September 14, 2013 by Ed Kluss

More philosophical than informative

I expected some more informative scientific content from this book but it is full of comparisons between different philosophical aspects. Is Budha "better" than others?

Published on July 1, 2013 by Yassen Gorbounov

It's a new way of thinking!

Fuzzy Logic challenges the old way of thinking. It addresses the marginal concepts of problems and perspectives. Great book...I would love to have the author as a professor.

Published on December 10, 2012 by Duane A. Thompson

Excellent ! Nails reality and already proven through $2+ bILLION!

I really liked the book because the proof comes before the theory. Fuzzy has generated billions so how can one give the book anything but 5 stars?Read more

Published on July 28, 2012 by Adel Anwar

Reality rules...,

...and science approximates (some things better than others!). Time has shown some improvement; however, there is still so much we don't, and may never, understand.Read more

Published on September 7, 2011 by Jazzaholic

fuzzy

por medio de ustedes compre otro por que cuando solicite este no tenian

Published on July 12, 2010 by gloria munera

Revolutions take time

I just re-read this book after a gap of several years. I remember being very excited by Kosko's ideas the first time through, and this second read was equally good.Read more

Published on October 26, 2009 by Robert Adler

3.5 stars-An above average presentation of the fuzzy logic revolution with some significant oversights

This book incorporates a general discussion of the fuzzy logic paradigm,which was started in 1965 with an article by L Zadeh.Read more

Published on June 13, 2008 by Michael Emmett Brady

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