Universes of fuzzy sets and axiomatizations of fuzzy set theory. I: Model-based and axiomatic approaches (Q2498365)

This is the first part of an extensive overview paper of most of the known attempts at giving a precise mathematical definition of the notion of a fuzzy set. The approaches are classified into four groups: ``naive'' constructions of cumulative universes of fuzzy sets, model-theoretical constructions, ``pure'' axiomatizations, and category-theoretic approaches. The latter are postponed to Part II of this paper [ibid. 84, No. 1, 23--50 (2006; Zbl 1124.03027)]. The ``naive'' constructions start with early attempts provided by German mathematician D. Klaua already in 1965 and continued also by S. Gottwald. The goal was to form a hierarchical universe of fuzzy sets in a way generalizing classical approaches known from classical set theory. The idea of model-theoretical constructions is to construct the universe of fuzzy sets starting with a suitable algebra \(L\) of truth values and then forming a hierarchy \(V_{\alpha}^L\) for each \(\alpha\in \text{On}\). The known approaches cover Boolean-valued sets (Z. Jin-Wen), a Heyting-algebra-valued approach (G. Takeuti, S. Titani), and residuated lattices (K. Lano). A more recent approach in this direction has been provided by P. Hájek and Z. Haniková, who form a BL-algebra-valued universe using the formal system of BL-fuzzy logic. Pure axiomatizations are attempts at developing specific axiomatic systems generalizing the classical Zermelo-Fraenkel and Gödel-Bernays ones. The former has been developed by E. W. Chapin or H. Toth, the latter by M. Demirci and D. Coker, and also by V. Novák. There is also an attempt at axiomatizing fuzzy objects, given by N. Prati, and fuzzy sets as multisets, developed by J. Lake and W. D. Blizard. Recently, the universe of fuzzy sets was constructed using specific systems of mathematical fuzzy logic, namely Ł\(\Pi\) -- the fuzzy class theory (L. Běhounek, P. Cintula). It can also be obtained within models of full fuzzy type theory (V. Novák). The paper is finished by a brief reference to Cantorian set theory over Łukasiewicz logic \(\L_{\infty}\), developed by P. Hájek.