An investigation of the laws of thought

"...the inclusion of Corcoran's extensive and penetrating introduction [sets this edition apart]...a valuable addition to Boole scholarship..." -- Philosophy in Review, January-June 2004 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

"Aristotle and Boole are the two most original logicians before the era of modern logic. Aristotle presented the world's first system of logic. His system involves the standard three parts: first, a limited formalized predicational language; second, a formal method of step-by-step deductions for establishing validity of arguments having unlimited numbers of premisses; and third, an equally general method of countermodels for establishing invalidity. Boole's LAWS OF THOUGHT showed that logic is mathematical. Its stated aims were to refine, systematize, and complete the project started by Aristotle and, more ambitiously, to demonstrate the mathematical character of logic. His two-part system involves, first, a limited formalized equational language capable of expressing tautologies or "laws of thought", a breakthrough dramatically altering Aristotle's plan, and, second, a semi-formal method of derivation using equational reasoning totally absent from previous systematic logic. Boole's primary goals included construction of a method for generating solutions to sets of equations regarded as conditions on "unknowns", an unprecedented innovation with radical implications for the future development of logic. As for the third part of a system of logic, a method of establishing invalidity, surprisingly, Boole's book contains no systematic discussion of independence nor does it contain anything like a method of countermodels. Boole's LAWS OF THOUGHT set in motion forces that would lead to the ultimate fulfillment many of his goals including the establishment of mathematical logic." - Amazon Reviewer