The Research Seminar Series in Philosophy invites you to a seminar with Marcel Quarfood, "Particular Propositions as Divisions: A 19th Century Austrian Tradition in Logic?"
Abstract: In his Symbolic Logic (1894), John Venn mentions a peculiar fractional representation of the particular proposition (Some S is P) employed by some 19th-century logicians, where the subject term is placed in the denominator of a fraction (1/S – P). Venn finds this placement of the subject term mathematically incomprehensible. I discuss whether the notational device fares better in light of the traditional doctrine of logical division of concepts (in terms of genus and species), rather than interpreted in a purely extensional way. Additionally, I refute Venn’s conjecture about the origin of the notation and note that most of the authors using it were based in the Austrian empire. I end by speculating on whether they constitute a distinctive tradition in Austrian logic, marked by shared logical and philosophical views.
All interested are welcome to participate in this seminar.
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