Lewis Carroll's Symbolic Logic

By Lewis Carroll

Book Overview

Symbolic Logic Unique Elements Historical Context Detailed 19th Century Historical Map Mathematics explained written in times before the morrow, sophisticated in a way modern logic lack. Symbolic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517523833
• ISBN13: 9780517523834
• Release Date: March 1977
• Publisher: Clarkson N. Potter
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A mind opener

A local (accredited) university allows a course in Propositional Logic to replace algebra. There is even Propositional Calculus. I find algebra a lot simpler. Well, this critter is symbolic logic (Mathematical logic) is not the same, but it is close enough. It is more English-oriented orientated however eventually moves into symbol tables. But still a toughie. Lewis Carroll gives a warning at the front of the book to not try to dive into the middle of the book or peek at the last chapter, or you will be confused and miss out on your opportunity to learn symbolic logic. Each chapter (I found page) builds on the previous one. I am only a few chapters in at this time; however, I see the world of communication in a new light. For example: A person with no concept of electricity sees a switch and knows it is on and off, and that is it. Others will look at the switch and see the end product of how the electricity operates from the physical wires to the A.C. concept. They may even follow the power to the source. Then the source of the materials. Then the materials in physics. Then to the quantum. Eventually, from the quantum to us and back to turning on the switch. All of that is simpler than this book on logic gets around to. It is someone’s idea of logic. Amazingly, the mathematician Lewis Carroll could write about something so deep over a century ago and still be spot on. Of course, he does mention cities that use gas for lighting. So, enjoy, dig in, discuss with friends, and be thankful for this opportunity to expand your mind. What Carroll did not know: The less-than sign plus the equals sign (<=) is used for an approximation of the less-than-or-equal-to sign (≤). ASCII does not have a less-than-or-equal-to sign. But Unicode defines it at code point U+2264. In BASIC, Lisp-family languages, and C-family languages (including Java and C++), operator <= means "less than or equal to".

Charles Dodgson / Lewis Carroll's Symbolic Logic

This book has been extremely helpful to me in writing my PhD thesis on Dodgson (Carroll) and his remarkable didactic approach. Unlike many other Victorians, Dodgson used fantasy, imagination,humor and vivid visual descriptions and charts to teach logic to students of all ages - from young children (like Alice) to high school teachers in girls' schools (he promoted logic to all sexes!) and to students in college. Bartley's book presents in a clear and comprehensive manner many of Dodgson's syllogisms and graphic techniques. It also provides insight into Dodgson's methods and history in the introduction, as well as presenting information such as letters and illustrations that shed light on Dodgson's way of thinking. Students / teachers of logic / computer science will be interested in the problem set presented in the second half of the book, with various versions and solutions, including the Members of Parliament Problem and Froggy's problem.