Author Archives: Jon Awbrey

Ideas Demand Expression Always

Re: Quomodocumque What came of my morning meditation today — There is something about an idea that demands to be communicated. But what of bad ideas, fixed ideas, ideology? And again, is there really any such thing as a bad … Continue reading

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Anamnesis, Maieusis, Monadology, Semeiosis

Anamnesis Learning = Recollection Maieusis Teaching = Midwifery Monadology Communication = Pre-Established Harmony Semeiosis Meaning = Interpretation

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The Lambda Point • 1

A note on the title.  From long ago discussions with Harvey Davis, one of my math professors at Michigan State.  I remember telling him of my interest in the place where algebra, geometry, and logic meet, and he quipped, “Ah … Continue reading

Posted in Algebra, Amphecks, Boolean Algebra, C.S. Peirce, Cactus Graphs, Geometry, Graph Theory, Lambda Point, Logic, Logical Graphs, Mathematics, Minimal Negation Operators, Peirce, Propositional Calculus, Topology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How To Succeed In Proof Business Without Really Trying

Re: R.J. Lipton • Surely You Are Joking? Comment 1 Even at the mailroom entry point of propositional calculus, there is a qualitative difference between insight proofs and routine proofs.  Human beings can do either sort, as a rule, but … Continue reading

Posted in Algorithms, Animata, Artificial Intelligence, Automatic Theorem Proving, Boolean Algebra, Boolean Functions, C.S. Peirce, Cactus Graphs, Computational Complexity, Graph Theory, Logic, Logical Graphs, Minimal Negation Operators, Model Theory, Peirce, Praeclarum Theorema, Proof Theory, Propositional Calculus, Visualization | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What Is A Theorem That A Human May Prove It?

Re: Gil Kalai • Why Is Mathematics Possible? • Tim Gowers’ Take On The Matter Comment 1 To the extent that mathematics has to do with reasoning about possible existence, or inference from pure hypothesis, a line of thinking going … Continue reading

Posted in Abduction, Analogy, Aristotle, C.S. Peirce, Conjecture, Deduction, Epistemology, Hypothesis, Induction, Inquiry, Logic, Logic of Science, Mathematics, Peirce, Proof Theory, Retroduction, Theorem Proving, Warren S. McCulloch | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

C.S. Peirce • The Proper Treatment of Hypotheses

Selection from C.S. Peirce, “Hume On Miracles” (1901), CP 6.522–547 530.   Now the testing of a hypothesis is usually more or less costly. Not infrequently the whole life’s labor of a number of able men is required to disprove a … Continue reading

Posted in Abduction, Hypothesis, Inquiry, Logic of Science, Peirce, References, Retroduction, Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moneytheism

Re: Cathy O’Neil • Profit as Proxy for Value There is a deep and pervasive analogy between systems of commerce and systems of communication, turning on their near-universal use of symbola (images, media, proxies, signs, symbols, tokens, etc.) to stand … Continue reading

Posted in Commerce, Communication, Economics, Moneytheism, Semiotics, Sign Relations | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fourier Transforms of Boolean Functions • 2

Re: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan • Twin Primes Are Useful Note.  Just another sheet of scratch paper, exploring possible alternatives to the Fourier transforms in the previous post.  As a rule, I like to keep Boolean problems in Boolean … Continue reading

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Wherefore Aught?

Re: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan • Why Is There Something? Here is another one of those eternally recurring ideas echoed inimitably by C.S. Peirce in his sketch of a Cosmogonic Philosophy. It would suppose that in the beginning,—infinitely remote,—there was … Continue reading

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Cosmogony, Evolution, Existence, Natural Law, Peirce, Philosophy, References, Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Special Classes of Propositions

Adapted from Differential Propositional Calculus • Special Classes of Propositions A basic proposition, coordinate proposition, or simple proposition in the universe of discourse is one of the propositions in the set Among the propositions in are several families of propositions … Continue reading

Posted in Boolean Functions, Computational Complexity, Differential Logic, Equational Inference, Functional Logic, Indication, Logic, Logical Graphs, Mathematics, Minimal Negation Operators, Propositional Calculus, Visualization | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments