Toward an epistemic-logical theory of categorization

Journal Article (2017)
Author(s)

Willem Conradie (University of Johannesburg)

Sabine Frittella (Université d'Orléans)

Alessandra Palmigiano (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management, University of Johannesburg)

Michele Piazzai (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)

Apostolos Tzimoulis (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)

Nachoem M. Wijnberg (Universiteit van Amsterdam, University of Johannesburg)

Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.4204/EPTCS.251.12 Final published version
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Publication Year
2017
Language
English
Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
Volume number
251
Pages (from-to)
167-186
Downloads counter
243
Collections
Institutional Repository
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Abstract

Categorization systems are widely studied in psychology, sociology, and organization theory as information-structuring devices which are critical to decision-making processes. In the present paper, we introduce a sound and complete epistemic logic of categories and agents' categorical perception. The Kripke-style semantics of this logic is given in terms of data structures based on two domains: one domain representing objects (e.g. market products) and one domain representing the features of the objects which are relevant to the agents' decision-making. We use this framework to discuss and propose logic-based formalizations of some core concepts from psychological, sociological, and organizational research in categorization theory.