Category Archives: Logic

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

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

Posted in Boolean Functions, Computational Complexity, Fourier Transforms, Harmonic Analysis, Logic, Mathematics, Propositional Calculus | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Fourier Transforms of Boolean Functions • 1

Re: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan • Twin Primes Are Useful The problem is concretely about Boolean functions of variables, and seems not to involve prime numbers at all. For any subset of the coordinate [indices], the corresponding Fourier coefficient … Continue reading

Posted in Boolean Functions, Computational Complexity, Fourier Transforms, Harmonic Analysis, Logic, Mathematics, Propositional Calculus | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Strangers In Paradise

Re: Kilvington’s Sophismata Comment 1 On the one hand Aristotle gives us the logic of analogy (παραδειγμα).  On the other hand he cautions us that different paradigms may have no common measure.  It seems these Immortals are always getting ahead … Continue reading

Posted in Albert Camus, Analogy, Aristotle, Differential Logic, Eleatic Stranger, Heraclitus, Incommensurability, Logic, Metabasis, Paradigmata, Paradox, Parmenides, Plato, Richard Kilvington, Sisyphus, Sophismata, Thomas Kuhn, Zeno | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

⚠ It’s A Trap ⚠

Re: Kenneth W. Regan • Graduate Student Traps The most common mathematical trap I run across has to do with Triadic Relation Irreducibility, as noted and treated by the polymath C.S. Peirce. This trap lies in the mistaken belief that every … Continue reading

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Category Theory, Descartes, Error, Fallibility, Logic, Logic of Relatives, Mathematical Traps, Mathematics, Peirce, Pragmatism, Reductionism, Relation Theory, Semiotics, Sign Relations, Triadic Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Triadic Relation Irreducibility • 3

References Relation Theory OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Triadic Relations OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Sign Relations OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Relation Composition OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Relation Construction OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Relation Reduction OEIS Wiki • PlanetMath Related Readings Notes … Continue reading

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Category Theory, Inquiry, Logic, Logic of Relatives, Mathematics, Peirce, Pragmatism, Relation Theory, Semiosis, Semiotics, Sign Relational Manifolds, Sign Relations, Teridentity, Thirdness, Triadic Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment