On the Algebra in Boole's Laws of Thought
This is an incremental historical analysis for scholars in logic and philosophy, clarifying the origins of Boolean algebra.
The paper investigates the influences on George Boole's development of an algebra for logical inference in 'The Laws of Thought', particularly arguing that his wife Mary Boole's claim about Indian logic shaped his work beyond just processing propositions, and uses parallels to explain peculiarities in his approach.
This article explores the ideas that went into George Boole's development of an algebra for logical inference in his book The Laws of Thought. We explore in particular his wife Mary Boole's claim that he was deeply influenced by Indian logic and argue that his work was more than a framework for processing propositions. By exploring parallels between his work and Indian logic, we are able to explain several peculiarities of this work.