Logic versus algebra

english debates and Boole's mediation

Marie-José Durand-Richard

pp. 139-166

in: James Gasser (ed), A Boole anthology, Berlin, Springer, 2000

Abstract

The work of George Boole (1805–64) is often considered a first attempt at mathe-matization of logic. It is often opposed to that of Gottlob Frege (1848–1925), who is regarded as the true founder of mathematical logic. This way of thinking may be considered as the appraisal of the twentieth-century philosopher, logician or mathematician who is well informed about historical developments in this field since the last century. It lays great stress on the formalization of logic but tends to neglect what could now be called the semantic question, despite its importance for Boole with the problem of the interpretation of symbols, and for Frege with the problem of representation by which he tries to understand the relation between propositions and reality.

Cited authors

Frege Gottlob

Boole George