Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:58:58.587Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Functional reasoning theories: Problems and perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2005

BEHROUZ HOMAYOUN FAR  and
A. HALIM ELAMY
BEHROUZ HOMAYOUN FAR
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
A. HALIM ELAMY
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Functional reasoning (FR) enables people to derive and explain function of artifacts in a goal-oriented manner. FR has been studied and employed in various disciplines, including philosophy, biology, sociology, and engineering design, and enhanced by the techniques borrowed from computer science and artificial intelligence. The outcome of FR research has been applied to engineering design, planning, explanation, and learning. A typical FR system in engineering design usually incorporates representational mechanisms of function concept together with description mechanisms of state, structure, or behavior, and explanations and reasoning mechanisms to derive and explain functions. As for representation, philosophers have long argued whether function of an artifact is a genuine property of it. As for explanation and reasoning, they have produced theories for functional ascription by an external viewer as part of an explanation. To build an FR-based system, the theory based on which the system is built and the underlying assumptions must be explicitly identified. This point is not always clear in the engineering of FR-based systems. Understanding the underlying assumptions, logical formulation, and limitations of FR theories will help developers assessing their systems correctly. The purpose of this paper is to review various FR theories and their underlying assumptions and limitations. This later serves as a benchmark for comparing various FR techniques.

Keywords

Functional ExplanationFunctional ReasoningLogicTeleology
Type
Research Article
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , May 2005 , pp. 75 - 88
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abu-Hanna, A., Benjamins, R., & Jansweijer, W. (1991). Device understanding and modeling for diagnosis. IEEE Expert 6(2), 26–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Acar, L. & Ozguner, U. (1990). Design of knowledge-rich hierarchical controllers for large functional systems. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 20(4), 791–803.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
AIEDAM. (1996). Special Issue. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 10(4).Google Scholar
AI Magazine. (1990). Special Issue. AI Magazine 11(4).Google Scholar
Allan, D.M. (1952). Towards a natural teleology. The Journal of Philosophy 49, 449–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Asai, K., Uenaka, J., Kambayashi, S., Higuchi, K., Kume, E., Otani, T., Fujii, M., & Fujisaki, M. (1990). HASP: human acts simulation program. Proc. 1st Int. Conf. Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications (SNA '90), Mito, Japan, March 1990.
Ayala, F.J. (1970). Teleological explanation in evolutionary biology. Philosophy of Science 37(1), 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beckner, M. (1969). Function and teleology. Journal of the History of Biology 2, 151–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bigelow, J. & Pargetter, R. (1987). Functions. The Journal of Philosophy 84(4), 181–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bobrow, D.G. (1984). Qualitative reasoning about physical systems: an introduction. Artificial Intelligence 24, 1–5.Google Scholar
Brady, M. & Connell, J. (1987). Generating and generalizing models of visual objects. Artificial Intelligence 31, 159–183.Google Scholar
Bradshaw, J.A. & Young, R.M. (1991). Evaluating design using knowledge of purpose and knowledge of structure. IEEE Expert 6(2), 33–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bylander, T. (1988). A critique of qualitative simulation from a consolidation viewpoint. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 18(2), 252–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canfield, J. (1964). Teleological explanations in biology. The British Journal of Philosophy of Science 14, 285–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chandrasekaran, B. (1990). Design problem solving: a task analysis. AI Magazine 11(4), 59–71.Google Scholar
Chandrasekaran, B. & Josephson, J.R. (2000). Function in device representation. Engineering with Computers 16, 162–177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chakrabarti, A. (1998). Supporting two views of function in mechanical designs. AAAI Workshops on Reasoning about Function and on Functional Modeling and Teleological Reasoning, Madison, WI.
Chakrabarti, A. & Bligh, T.P. (2001). A scheme for functional reasoning in conceptual design. Design Studies 22(6), 493–517.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chittaro, L. & Kumar, A.N. (1998). Reasoning about function and its applications to engineering. Artificial Intelligence in Engineering 12(4), 331–336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cockburn, A. (2001). Writing Effective Use Cases. Reading, MA: Addison–Wesley.
Constantine, L.L. & Lockwood, L.A.D. (1999). Software for Use: A Practical Guide to the Models and Methods of Usage-Centered Design. Reading, MA: Addison–Wesley.
Cummins, R. (1974). Dispositions, states and causes. Analysis 34.6(162), 194–204.CrossRef
Cummins, R. (1975). Functional analysis. The Journal of Philosophy 72(20), 741–765.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeKleer, J. (1984). How circuits work. Artificial Intelligence 24, 205–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeKleer, J. & Brown, J.S. (1984). A qualitative physics based on confluences. Artificial Intelligence 24, 7–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeJong, H.L. (2003). Causal and functional explanations. Theory and Psychology 13(33), 291–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deng, Y.M. (2002). Function and behavior representation in conceptual mechanical design. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 16(5), 343–362.Google Scholar
Dormoy, J.L. & Raiman, O. (1988). Assembling a device. Proc. 7th National Conf. Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-88), pp. 330–335.CrossRef
Ellman, T. (1989). Explanation-based learning: a survey of programs and perspectives. ACM Computing Surveys 21(2).CrossRef
Elster, J. (1983). Functional explanation in social science. In Explaining Technical Change, pp. 55–68. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Faltings, B. (1987). Qualitative kinematics in mechanisms. Proc. 10th Int. Joint Conf. Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI '87), pp. 436–442.
Faltings, B. (1990). Qualitative kinematics in mechanisms. Artificial Intelligence 44, 89–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Far, B.H. (1992). Functional Reasoning, Explanation and Analysis. Technical Report JAERI-M 91-225.
Far, B.H. (1999). How to learn function of devices. IEEE Int. Conf. Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, IEEE SMC '99, Vol. 5, pp. 860–865.CrossRef
Far, B.H. & Nakamichi, M. (1993). Qualitative fault diagnosis in systems with nonintermittent concurrent faults: a subjective approach. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 23(1), 14–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fink, P.K. (1985). Control and integration of diverse knowledge in a diagnostic expert system. Proc. 9th Int. Joint Conf. Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI '85), pp. 426–431.
Fink, P.K. & Lusth, J.C. (1987). Expert systems and diagnosis expertise in the mechanical and electrical domains. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 17(3), 340–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forbus, K., Nielsen, P., & Faltings, B. (1987). Qualitative kinematics: a framework. Proc. 10th Int. Joint Conf. Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI '87), pp. 430–435.
Franke, D.W. (1991). Deriving and using descriptions of purpose. IEEE Expert 6(2), 41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeman, P. & Newell, A. (1971). A model for functional reasoning in design. Proc. 2nd Int. Joint Conf. Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI '71), pp. 621–640.
Gautier, P.O. & Gruber, T.R. (1993). Generating explanations of device behavior using compositional modeling and causal ordering. Eleventh National Conf. Artificial Intelligence.
Gelsey, A. (1987). Automated reasoning about machine geometry and kinematics. Proc. 3rd IEEE Conf. AI Applications, Orlando, FL.
Hayes, P. (1979). Naive physics 1: ontology for liquids. In Formal Theories of the Common Sense World (Hobbs, J.R. & Moore, R.C., Eds.), pp. 71–107. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Co.
Hayes, P. (1985). The second naive physics manifesto. In Readings in Cognitive Science: A Perspective from Psychology and Artificial Intelligence (Collins, A. & Smith, E.E., Eds.), pp. 468–485. San Mateo, CA: Morgan Kaufman.
Hayes, P. (1990). The naive physics manifesto. In The Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (Boden, M.A., Ed.), Chap. 8. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hempel, C.G. (1959). The logic of functional analysis. In Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science (Martin, M. & McIntyre, L.C., Eds.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Hubka, V. & Eder, W.E. (2001). Functions revisited. Proc. ICED '01, Glasgow.
IEEE Intelligent Systems. (1997). Special Issue. IEEE Intelligent Systems 12(2).Google Scholar
International Journal of Applied AI>. (1994). Special Issue. International Journal of Applied AI 8(2).Google Scholar
Iwasaki, Y. (1989). Causality and Model Abstraction. Knowledge Systems Laboratory Report TR KSL-89-80.
Jacobson, I., Christerson, M., Jonsson, & P., Övergaard. G. (1992). Object-Oriented Software Engineering: A Use Case Driven Approach. Harlow, England: Addison–Wesley.
Joskowicz, L. (1987). Shape and function in mechanical devices. Proc. 6th National Conf. Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-87), pp. 611–615.
Joskowicz, L. & Addanki, S. (1988). From kinematics to shape: an approach to innovative design. Proc. 7th National Conf. Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-88), pp. 347–352.
Kara, L.B. & Stahovich, T.F. (2002). Spatial reasoning about mechanical behaviors. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 16(5), 363–384.Google Scholar
Keuneke, A.M. (1991). Device representation: the significance of functional knowledge. IEEE Expert 6(2), 22–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuipers, B. (1986). Qualitative simulation. Artificial Intelligence 29, 289–338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lehman, H. (1965). Functional explanations in biology. Philosophy of Science 32(1), 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lind, M. (1988). System concepts and the design of man–machine interfaces for supervisory control. In Tasks, Errors and Mental Models (Goodstein, L.P., Andersen, H.B. & Olsen, S.E., Eds.), pp. 269–277. London: Taylor & Francis.
Matthen, M. (1988). Biological functions and perceptual content. The Journal of Philosophy 85, 5–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMenamin, S.M. & Palmer, J.F. (1984). Essential Systems Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Merriam–Webster. (2002). Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Springfield, MA: Merriam–Webster.
Millikan, R.G. (1989). In defense of proper functions. Philosophy of Science 56, 288–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murakami, T. & Nakajima, N. (1988). Computer-aided design—diagnosis using feature description. In Artificial Intelligence in Engineering: Diagnosis and Learning (Gero, J.S., Ed.), pp. 199–226. New York: Elsevier.
Nagel, E. (1977a). Teleology revisited: goal directed processes in biology. The Journal of Philosophy 74(5), 261–279.Google Scholar
Nagel, E. (1977b). Teleology revisited: functional explanation in biology. The Journal of Philosophy 74(5), 280–301.Google Scholar
Nielsen, J. (2000). Designing Web Usability. Berkeley, CA: New Riders Publishing.
Oxford University Press. (2003). Oxford English Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press.
Pegah, M., Sticklen, J., & Bond, W. (1993). Functional representation and reasoning about the F/A-18 aircraft fuel system. IEEE Expert 2, 65–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pu, P. & Badler, N.I. (1988). Design knowledge capturing for device behavior reasoning. In Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Design (Gero, J.S., Ed.), pp. 37–56. New York: Elsevier.
Qian, L. & Gero, J.S. (1996). Function–behavior–structure paths and their role in analogy-based design. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 10(4), 289–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, J. (1983). Skills, rules and knowledge: signals, signs, and symbols, and other distinctions in human performance models. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 13(3), 257–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, J. (1985). The role of hierarchical knowledge representation in decision making and system management. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 15(2), 234–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, J. (1990). Human error and the problem of causality in analysis of accidents. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B327, 449–462.CrossRef
Rasmussen, J. (1991). Event analysis and the problem of causality. In Distributed Decision Making: Cognitive Models for Cooperative Work (Rasmussen, J., Brehmer, B. & Leplat, J., Eds.). New York: Wiley.
Rosenberg, A. (2001). Reductionism in a historical science. Philosophy of Science 68, 135–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, B. (1913). On the notion of cause. Proceedings of the Aristotelean Society 13, 1–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruse, M. (1971). Function statements in biology. Philosophy of Science 38(1), 87–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russumanno, D. & Bonnell, R.D. (1996). Functional reasoning in a failure modes and effect analysis (FEMA) expert system. Proc. IEEE Reliability and Maintainability Symp., pp. 339–347.
Sembugamoorthy, V. & Chandrasekaran, B. (1986). Functional representation of devices and compilation of diagnostic problem solving systems. In Experience, Memory and Reasoning (Kolodner, J. & Reisbeck, C., Eds.), pp. 47–73. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Shank, R. & Abelson, R. (1977). Scripts, Plans, Goals and Understanding: An Inquiry Into Human Knowledge Structure. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Shekar, B. (1990). Temporal sequencing of concepts in a functional knowledge base. Proc. Pacific Rim Int. Conf. Artificial Intelligence (PRICAI '90), pp. 699–704.
Shoham, Y. (1990). Non-monotonic reasoning and causation. Cognitive Science 14, 213–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simon, H.A. (1969). The Sciences of the Artificial. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Sorabji, R. (1964). Function. Philosophy Quarterly 14(57), 289–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanfill, C. (1983). The decomposition of a large domain: reasoning about machines. Proc. National Conf. Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-83), pp. 387–390.
Sticklen, J. & Bond, W.E. (1991). Functional reasoning and functional modeling. IEEE Expert 6(2), pp. 20–21.CrossRef
Tezza, T. & Trucco, E. (1988). Functional reasoning for flexible robots. In AI in Engineering: Robotics and Processes (Gero, J.S., Ed.), pp. 3–19. New York: Elsevier.
Ulrich, K.T. & Seering, W.P. (1988). Function sharing in mechanical design. Proc. 7th National Conf. Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-88), pp. 342–346.
Umeda, Y. & Tomiyama, T. (1996). Supporting conceptual design based on the function–behavior–state modeler. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 10(4), 275–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Umeda, Y. & Tomiyama, T. (1997). Functional reasoning in design. IEEE Intelligent Systems 12(2), 42–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, D.M. (1996). A taxonomy of functions. Canadian Journal of Philosophy 26(4), 493–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiegers, K.E. (2003). Software Requirements, 2nd ed. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press.
Wright, L. (1973). Functions. Philosophy Review 82(2), 139–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, L. (1976). Teleological Explanations. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.