Folk arguments, numerical taxonomy and case-based reasoning

Abstract

Experts who narrate their knowledge in case-like form often express significant parts of it in folk arguments ( considerations for and against alternative recommendations where informal judgment is involved. Such arguments do not fit naturally into common frameworks of case-based reasoning. The knowledge they contain may therefore be overlooked despite its value. The paper indicates a mean of helping knowledge acquisition in such circumstances, proposes numerical taxonomy for structuring case bases where folk arguments are included, and shows how these contributions are used, through an example involving both scientific considerations and subjective expert judgment: allocation of frequencies for shortwave broadcasting. Show more