Abstract: An adaptive learning system in which knowledge is represented in the form of discrete concepts that are associated with one another. Each such association of concepts is called a case. In accordance with the invention, the degree of association of the concepts in the various cases can be specified by a mathematical score. As a result, if one concept such as the description of a problem is specified to this system, the system will identify associated concepts such as the likely solutions of the problem in the order of likelihood. The adaptive learning system is initialized by loading into the system cases which typically were derived from previous experience. The cases are stored by the is processor in a case table in long-term memory. Each of the concepts identified in the cases is stored in the concept table in the long-term memory.