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The idea that logic is a branch of mathematics is itself a modern notion. Aristotle's logic was part of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) in classical
by QuesnayJr 11d ago
The idea that logic is a branch of mathematics is itself a modern notion. Aristotle's logic was part of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) in classical notions of education, while mathematics made up several parts of the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy).
Of course in retrospect we can see that the syllogistic part of Aristotle's logic can be formalized (as can grammar), but it was viewed as part of language or philosophy. I get the impression that a lot of more traditional philosophers of logic hated the formal turn.
Leibniz anticipated the turn towards formalism, but he didn't publish any of it in his life and it wasn't rediscovered until the 20th century.
- pcfwik 8d agoAgreed that logic isn't a branch of mathematics (even today, my experience has been that logic classes tend to be offered by philosophy departments, not math). My only quibble was the implication that logic is somehow much newer than mathematics (/Euclid). It's not like people suddenly woke up one day in the 20th century and thought for the first time: "huh, I wonder what separates correct arguments from incorrect ones?" But point taken that Aristotle was not as formalist in his time. If you have some sources to read more about this: > I get the impression that a lot of more traditional philosophers of logic hated the formal turn. I would be very interested! (Don't doubt it at all, just sounds like an interesting period I don't know as much about as I'd like.)