On Two Conceptions of Formality in 19th Century Symbolic Logic (Extended Abstract)

JAVIER LEGRIS

BULLETIN OF SYMBOLIC LOGIC, THE

ASSOC SYMBOLIC LOGIC, INC

Año: 2010 vol. 15 p. 360 - 360

1079-8986

This paper deals with two conceptions of formality underlying 19th Century symbolic logic. In both conceptions the idea of symbolic system played an important role. The discussion will be guided by a distinction devised by Gottlob Frege between two sorts of formal theories. In the paper both conceptions will be connected to the attempts of constructing universal scientific languages at that time. As a conclusion it will be shown that each of the two conceptions of formality places logic in different levels and determines different conceptions of universality, and their influence in the subsequent development of symbolic logic will be also sketched.