The problematique: Evolution of an idea

A problematique is a graphical portrayal - a structural model - of relation ships among members of a set of problems. It is a product of a group proces s whose design benefits from the writings of Aristotle, Abelard, Leibniz, D eMorgan, C.S. Peirce, and Harary. Contemporary scholars first conceived the idea of the problematique simply as a name for the array of problems confr onting the world. It was then extended to represent a structural portrayal applicable to specific problematic situations. Having been tested in many s uch situations, it can now be viewed as a standard format of wide utility i n many applications. An appropriate perspective on this type of structure a rises from comprehending the history of its evolution. Copyright (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.