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George Boole (1815-1864) is well known to mathematicians for his research and textbooks on the calculus, but his name has spread world-wide for his innovations in symbolic logic and the development and applications made since his day. The utility of "Boolean algebra" in computing has greatly increased curiosity in the nature and extent of his achievements. His work is most accessible in his two books on logic, "A mathematical analysis of logic" (1947) and "An investigation of the laws of thought" (1954). But at various times he wrote manuscript essays, especially after the publication of the second book; several were intended for a non-technical work, "The Philosophy of logic", which he was not able to complete. This volume contains an edited selection which not only relates them to Boole's publications and the historical context of his time, but also describes their strange history of family, followers and scholars have treid to confect an edition. The book will appeal to logicians, mathematicians and philosophers, and those interested in the histories of the corresponding subjects; and also students of the early Victorian Britain in which they were written.
List of contents
A The Nature of Logic and the Philosophy of Mathematics.- I The Nature of Logic.- II Elementary Treatise on Logic not mathematical including philosophy of mathematical reasoning.- III [Extracts from a notebook].- B The Philosophical Interpretation of a Theory of Logic.- IV Prolegomena.- V On the Foundations of the Mathematical Theory of Logic and on the Philosophical Interpretation of Its Methods and Processes.- VI [Preparatory Notes].- VII General Summary.- C "The Philosophy of Logic" - A Sequel to "The Laws of Thought".- VIII [Preface].- IX Table of Contents.- The Philosophy of Reasoning.- XI Logic.- D Miscellaneous Matters, Letters and Fragments.- XII On Belief in Its Relation to the Understanding.- XIII The Philosophical Idea of Freedom.- XIV Note [to Aristotle].- XV Philosophy of Mathematics.- XVI [Various fragments, apparently late].- XVII Letters to Cayley, Lubbock and Penrose.- Textual Notes.- Explanation of the description of the material.- The two Signature systems "MM" and "RS".- The Boole/Falk List of 1896.- Details on individual documents.- Notes on the individual chapters.- I: The Nature of Logic.- II: Elementary Treatise on Logic.- III: [Extracts from a notebook].- IV: Prolegomena.- V: On the Foundations of Logic.- VI: [Preparatory Notes].- VII: General Summary.- VIII: [Preface].- IX: Table of Contents.- X: The Philosophy of Reasoning.- XI: Logic.- XII: On Belief in Its Relation to the Understanding.- XIII: The Philosophical Idea of Freedom.- XIV: Note [to Aristotle].- XV: Philosophy of Mathematics.- XVI: [Various fragments, apparently late].- XVII: Letters to Cayley, Lubbock and Penrose.- Index of Names.- Index of Subjects.
Summary
George Boole (1815-1864) is well known to mathematicians for his research and textbooks on the calculus, but his name has spread world-wide for his innovations in symbolic logic and the development and applications made since his day. The utility of "Boolean algebra" in computing has greatly increased curiosity in the nature and extent of his achievements. His work is most accessible in his two books on logic, "A mathematical analysis of logic" (1947) and "An investigation of the laws of thought" (1954). But at various times he wrote manuscript essays, especially after the publication of the second book; several were intended for a non-technical work, "The Philosophy of logic", which he was not able to complete. This volume contains an edited selection which not only relates them to Boole's publications and the historical context of his time, but also describes their strange history of family, followers and scholars have treid to confect an edition. The book will appeal to logicians, mathematicians and philosophers, and those interested in the histories of the corresponding subjects; and also students of the early Victorian Britain in which they were written.
