This might be of interest. Over the last century a small group of people, working largely independently and in isolation, have discovered and refined an Universal Language.
This is a logic-symbolic notation, not a spoken language (i.e. not like Esperanto), that captures and expresses the essence of logical reasoning in a direct and unmistakable way. The rules of logical reasoning (and Set Theory, etc.) expressed in the Universal Language admit of a decision procedure that is of unprecedented simplicity and power. I think of it as the alphabet of thought. I'm still gathering threads and learning but I've compiled a few links and a bit of history: C. S. Pierce, Existential Graphs, circa 1890 Spencer-Brown, "Laws of Form" Bricken, http://iconicmath.com/ Shroup, http://www.lawsofform.org/ Burnett-Stuart, http://www.markability.net/ One example that should indicate why I am excited about it: Logical statements that are equivalent under De Morgan's are identical in the notation. De Morgan's "laws" are, in effect, a kind of side effect of notational encumbrance. Also, "modus ponens" and "modus tellens" have identical expression. Also, any expression in the notation is a schematic for a logic gate circuit that computes the logical value of the expression. It goes on and on. Warm regards, ~Simon "The history of mankind for the last four centuries is rather like that of an imprisoned sleeper, stirring clumsily and uneasily while the prison that restrains and shelters him catches fire, not waking but incorporating the crackling and warmth of the fire with ancient and incongruous dreams, than like that of a man consciously awake to danger and opportunity." --H. P. Wells, "A Short History of the World" _______________________________________________ fonc mailing list [email protected] http://vpri.org/mailman/listinfo/fonc
