Thinking and Calculating: Essays in Logic, Its History and Its Philosophical Applications in Honour of Massimo Mugnai

This volume collects 22 essays on the history of logic written by outstanding specialists in the field, covering topics from Antiquity to the Modern Age and in dialogue with other subjects such as mathematics, economics, and the moral sciences. The book was prompted by the 2018-2019 celebrations in honor of Massimo Mugnai, a renowned historian of logic whose contributions have shaped the field.

Format: Hardback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive volume presents a collection of 22 essays on the history of logic, authored by renowned experts in the field. The book originated from the celebrations held in 2018-2019 to honor Massimo Mugnai, a distinguished historian of logic known for his profound contributions to Medieval and Modern logic, particularly in the interpretation of Leibniz's logical writings. Given the significant recent advancements in the history of logic that bear connections or debts to Mugnai's work, the editors aimed to create a volume that showcases the vast development of logic across centuries. The editors hope that this volume will serve as a valuable resource for both specialists and students, providing a deeper understanding of the complexity of the history of logic, the wide range of problems it has addressed, and the diverse relationships it has established with other disciplines throughout history.

The contributions in this volume span from antiquity to the modern age, covering various areas such as semantics, linguistics, proof theory, technical problems, and deep metaphysical inquiries. Throughout, the history of logic remains in dialogue with the histories of mathematics, economics, and the moral sciences, fostering a rich interdisciplinary exchange.

The editors of this volume have assembled a distinguished group of scholars who have made significant contributions to the study of logic. Each essay offers a unique perspective on the evolution of logic, shedding light on its historical development, influential thinkers, and key concepts. The book is organized into four sections, each dedicated to a different period or aspect of logic's development.

The first section, "Antiquity to the Middle Ages," explores the early foundations of logic and its development in ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome. The essays in this section examine the philosophical and mathematical ideas that laid the groundwork for later logical systems, including the concept of propositions, syllogisms, and deductive reasoning.

The second section, "The Renaissance and Early Modern Period," focuses on the period of intellectual revival known as the Renaissance, which saw a renewed interest in logic and its application to various fields. The essays in this section explore the contributions of scholars such as Francis Bacon, René Descartes, and Gottfried Leibniz, who developed new logical systems and methods that laid the foundation for modern logic.

The third section, "The Modern Age," examines the development of logic in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on the contributions of logicians such as Bertrand Russell, Alfred North Whitehead, and Kurt Godel. The essays in this section explore the emergence of new logical theories, such as set theory, type theory, and modal logic, as well as the application of logic to fields such as computer science, philosophy, and linguistics.

The fourth section, "Contemporary Perspectives," presents essays that explore the latest developments in the history of logic and its interdisciplinary connections. The essays in this section discuss the impact of logic on other disciplines, such as mathematics, economics, and the social sciences, as well as the challenges and opportunities for the future of logic research.

In conclusion, this volume offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the history of logic, providing a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the development of this discipline. The contributions of the volume span from antiquity to the modern age, covering various areas and perspectives, and demonstrate the rich and dynamic nature of logic as a field of study. By engaging with the history of logic, we gain a deeper understanding of its origins, evolution, and applications, which can inform our understanding of contemporary philosophical and scientific problems.

Weight: 869g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030973025
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022