Formal Concept Analysis

Dieses Lehrbuch zur Formalen Begriffsanalyse gibt eine systematische Darstellung der mathematischen Grundlagen und ihrer Verbindung zu Anwendungen in der Informatik, insbesondere in der Datenanalyse und Wissensverarbeitung. Das Buch vermittelt vor allem Methoden der graphischen Darstellung von Begriffssystemen, die sich in der Wissenskommunikation bestens bewährt haben. Theorie und graphische Darstellung werden dabei eng miteinander verknüpft. Die mathematischen Grundlagen werden vollständig abgehandelt und durch zahlreiche Beispiele anschaulich gemacht. Da zur Wissensverarbeitung immer stärker der Computer genutzt wird, gewinnen formale Methoden begrifflicher Analyse überall an Bedeutung. Das Buch macht die dafür grundlegende Theorie in kompakter Form zugänglich. This first textbook on formal concept analysis gives a systematic presentation of the mathematical foundations and their relations to applications in computer science, especially in data analysis and knowledge processing. Above all, it presents graphical methods for representing conceptual systems that have proved themselves in communicating knowledge. The mathematical foundations are treated thoroughly and are illuminated by means of numerous examples, making the basic theory readily accessible in compact form. This is the first textbook on formal concept analysis. It gives a systematic presentation of the mathematical foundations and their relations to applications in computer science, especially in data analysis and knowledge processing. Above all, it presents graphical methods for representing conceptual systems that have proved themselves in communicating knowledge. Theory and graphical representation are thus closely coupled together. The mathematical foundations are treated thoroughly and illuminated by means of numerous examples. Since computers are being used ever more widely for knowledge processing, formal methods for conceptual analysis are gaining in importance. This book makes the basic theory for such methods accessible in a compact form.