187034

Springer, Dordrecht

2013

304 Pages

ISBN 978-3-0348-0608-4

Towards a general theory of classifications

Daniel Parrochia, Pierre Neuville

This book is an essay on the epistemology of classifications. Its main purpose is not to provide an exposition of an actual mathematical theory of classifications, that is, a general theory which would be available to any kind of them: hierarchical or non-hierarchical, ordinary or fuzzy, overlapping or non-overlapping, finite or infinite, and so on, establishing a basis for all possible divisions of the real world. For the moment, such a theory remains nothing but a dream. Instead, the authorsessentially put forward a number of key questions. Their aim is rather to reveal the 'state of art" of this dynamic field and the philosophy one may eventually adopt to go further. To this end they present some advances made in the course of the last century, discuss a few tricky problems that remain to be solved, and show the avenues open to those who no longer wish to stay on the wrong track.

Researchers and professionals interested in the epistemology and philosophy of science, library science, logic and set theory, order theory or cluster analysis will find this book a comprehensive, original and progressive introduction to the main questions in this field.

Publication details

Full citation:

Parrochia, D. , Neuville, P. (2013). Towards a general theory of classifications, Springer, Dordrecht.

Table of Contents

Philosophical problems

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

1-22

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Information data structures

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

23-56

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Empirical clustering and classic hierarchies

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

57-91

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Algebra of trees

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

93-124

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Generalized classifications

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

125-145

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Topology of generalized classifications

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

147-172

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Metaclassification

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

173-208

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For an axiomatic theory of classifications

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

209-228

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Alternative theories and higher infinite

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

229-260

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Postscript

Parrochia Daniel; Neuville Pierre

261-263

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