Fuzzy logic is a form of logic that allows for degrees of truth, rather than a limited binary true / false response. In classical logic, a statement is true or false. A dog either has four legs or it doesn’t. This animal with four legs is a dog. Or not. 2 + 2 = 41. And on and on.
In fuzzy logic, a statement can be any value between 0 (false) and 1 (true), meaning we can express a number to index items that are partially true. In classical logic, we might also want to know is the glass full? With fuzzy logic we have the joy of responding that the glass is 70% full, so ‘this glass is full’ is 70% true.
This might seem simple and not a big deal, but the implications are significant. They form a live part of the AI revolution that we are living through. Fuzzy logic allows us to model real-world uncertainty and vagueness.
A regular light switch is ON (1) / OFF (0). No in-between. Digital. Binary. A dimmer switch can be partially on: 20%, 50%, 72% … a spectrum rather than a binary flip. Fuzzy logic allows shades of truth beyond yes/no.
Nuanced News
One definition of ‘truth’ is the quality or state of being in accordance with fact or reality. This has become contentious - which facts? What version of reality? Who says so? What about these alternative facts?
Deciding which facts speak to any given situation is a serious question. Truth can be seen as a matching correspondence of language and belief with an independent reality. Truth isn't just about words; it's about how those words relate to the actual world.
The concept of truth is explored in various fields, including philosophy, science and religion2. Each has a different perspective on the nature of truth and how it's determined. Some theories of truth emphasise its objective nature, while others acknowledge a degree of subjectivity or interpretation.
Meaning & Truth
While Jacques Derrida3 is often mistakenly labeled an anything goes relativist, his work on deconstruction doesn't equate to a complete denial of truth. Derrida argued that truth is not a fixed, monolithic entity, but rather a concept constructed and maintained through language and power structures.
He challenged the idea of a single, objective truth by demonstrating how language subtly shapes our understanding and how seemingly stable concepts are built upon unstable foundations. Deconstruction, for Derrida, is a method of examining these constructions, not of eliminating the possibility of truth altogether, but of revealing its complexities and limitations.
Fuzzy Truth
Derrida critiqued the traditional philosophical notion of truth as a single, self-evident, and universally accessible entity. Deconstruction, in Derrida's view, is about analysing how truth is discovered and maintained.
While his work highlights the constructed nature of truth, he did not support a free-for-all where anything goes. Derrida recognised that some claims are more connected to evidence and reasoning than others. I see his deconstruction as a call for critical thinking and a more nuanced understanding of truth. He encourages us to question our assumptions and think for ourselves.
Fuzzy News
Fuzzy logic is used in news systems to handle ambiguity and uncertainty in the overloaded news wires. Instead of treating news as strictly true or false, fuzzy logic allows for degrees of truth, making it useful for tasks like fake news detection, and sentiment analysis.
Instead of a binary "true/false" classification, fuzzy logic can assign a degree of "truthfulness" to a news item. For example, a fuzzy logic system might consider factors like the source's reputation and the presence of supporting evidence to determine how believable the news is.
Fuzzy logic can also analyse the emotional tone of news articles, assigning degrees of sentiment (e.g., positive, negative, neutral) rather than strict classifications. This is useful for understanding how different news events might be perceived by different audiences and for identifying potential biases in news coverage.
Fuzzy Facts
David Byrne, the musician and artist, produced Crosseyed & Painless, an art-pop-dance song, which I imagine playing in New York Nightclubs in 1980. As Jeremy Deller commented, Pop Music is Prophecy. How about these lyrics as a prediction of what is now a sign of our times:
Facts are simple and facts are straight
Facts are lazy and facts are late
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
Facts are getting the best of them
Facts are nothing on the face of things
Crosseyed & Painless (Talking Heads, Remain in Light, 1980)
Slang Sidenote4
Fuzzy Logic is also used in everyday language, and is used to point to inconsistent or vague arguments, even if they sort of make sense emotionally. It is often used critically.
“He says he loves animals but eats burgers every day.
That dude sure running some fuzzy logic.”
Gin Soaked Boy
The Divine Comedy captures the nuance in their song Gin Soaked boy. A few of the lyrics are shown below:
I'm the ghost in the machine
I'm the genius in the gene
I'm the trust in the mistrust
I'm the truth you'll never know
I'm the place you'll never go
I'm the course you'll never steer
I'm the why not in the why
I'm the catcher in the rye
Well, who am I?
The final line: Who am I? Let’s make an effort to live more nuanced lives. The poet and mystic Rumi (1207-1273) was already tuned in to these ideas. This famous couplet expresses the need to move beyond polarising emotional truths.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
There is a field. I'll meet you there.
Rumi
Thanks for reading. Your Life. Your Rules. Buy The Ticket. Take The Ride. Follow The Rabbit. Live Loud.
In 1984 (George Orwell) the party mantra "2 + 2 = 5" aims to control reality through fake news propaganda, sending independent thought underground. The phrase highlights the dangers of a totalitarian state.
In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins introduces a seven-point scale, between confirmed believer (1) and confirmed atheist (7). Dawkins places himself at 6, not 7 as everybody assumes. This is because his identity as a scientist is strong and he admits he cannot prove that God exists but he feels a strong emotional and intellectual sense that the landlord is absent.
Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) believed that meaning is unstable and that all possibilities should be considered. His work applies to philosophy, literature, and politics. I think he is widely misunderstood to have suggested moral relativism and that anything goes. For me, he is making a plea for serious critical thinking. Ironically there is usually a fair amount of BS and pretension around his work.
Slang is a huge topic. Gonna be several stacks on this item.
Well done tackling such a difficult topic