A Survey of Symbolic Logic: The Classic Algebra of Logic

Preface The historical summary inC hapter I attempts to follow the main thread of development, and no reference, or only passing mention, is given to those studies which seem not to have affected materially the methods of later researches. In the remainder of the book, the selection has been governed by the same purpose. Those topics comprehension of which seems most essential, have been treated at some length, while matters less fundamental have been set forth in outline only, or omitted altogether. My own contribution to symbolic logic, presented inC hapter V, has not earned the right to inclusion here; in this, I plead guilty to partiality. The discussion of controversial topics has been avoided whenever possible and, for the rest, limited to the simpler issues involved. Consequently, the reader must not suppose that any sufficient consideration of these questions is here given, though such statements as are made will be, I hope, accurate. Particularly in the last chapter, onS ymbolic Logic, Logistic, and Mathematical Method ,it is not possible to give anything like an adequate account of the facts. That would require a volume at least the size of this one. Rather, I have tried to set forth the most important and critical considerations somewhat arbitrarily and dogmatically, since there is not space for argument and to provide such a map of this difficult territory as will aid the student in his further explorations. Proofs and solutions inC hapters II, III, and IV have been given very fully. Proof is of the essence of logistic, and it is my observation that students even those with a fair knowledge of mathematics seldom command the technique of rigorous demonstration. In any case, this explicitness can do no harm, since no one need read a proof which he already understands. I am indebted to many friends and colleagues for valuable assistance in preparing
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)