5. The sources of logic
As all of the preceding shows, the logic we propose here is intimately linked to a realist philosophy of being, aristotelian in nature, although we will add in the appendix a brief introduction to contemporary symbolic logic. Therefore we leave aside whole and important parts of the history of logic, such as stoic logic or occamian logic (cf in this regard the excellent book of J. M. Bochenski, O.P., Formale Logik, Freiburg i. B. - Munchen, 1956).
Almost all the material presented in this work finds its first and genius elaboration in the Organon of Aristotle (384/83 - 322BC), which is organized as follows:
Logic of the universal
materially considered: The Categories
Logic of the proposition: Peri Hermeneias
Logic of argumentation
formal logic
of the demonstrative syllogism: Prior Analytics
material logic
of the demonstrative syllogism: Posterior Analytics
logic of the probable syllogism: The Topics
logic of the the sophisticated syllogism: Sophistici elenchi
To this system already quite complete, the neo-platonist Porphyry (232/33 - 304AD) adds a brief treatise on universals formally considered, conceived by himself as a complement to the categories of Aristotle, and titled Isagoge (Greek and Latin here)
Further major developments of Aristotelian logic are contained in the following works, in chronological order:
Manlius Severinus Bœtius (Roma, 480 - Pavia 524), Commentary on Porphyry and Aristotle in Opera omnia, tomus posterior, PL 64, col. 9 - 1224.
Petrus Hispanus (Lisbona, 1210/20 - Roma, 1277), [1276 - 1277, Holy Father by the name of IOANNES XXI], Summulæ logicæ.
Sanctus Thomas Aquinatis O.P. (Aquino, 1224/5 - Fossanova, 1274), Expositio Libri Peryermenias [commento sul Peri Hermeneias di Aristotele]. Ed. leonina, t. 1*/1. Trad. ingl. di J.A. Oesterle, Aristotle on Interpretation: Commentary by St. Thomas and Cajetan (Peri Hermeneias)
Id., Expositio Libri Posteriorum [commento sugli Analitici secondi di Aristotele]. Ed. leonina, t. 1*/2. English translation by F.R. Larcher, Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Posterior Analytics of Aristotle.
Ioannes a Sancto Thoma O.P. (Lisbona, 1589 - Lerida, 1644), Ars logica seu de forma et materia ratiocinandi. Ed. Reiser.
05 September 2008
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4 comments:
I'm reading through this...but I've gotta say, Monsieur Contat does not appear to be writing for mere mortals.
Will,
There are two difficulties:
a) The divisions seem to be multiplied beyond the ordinary, and reading 1, 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.1.1, 1.1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.1.2 is not easy, which leads in to the fact that
b) the format of a blog does not treat them kindly. I guess I thought that the information is so good that I have to put it out there in whatever format available.
Some sections are more abstruse than others. The introduction is one of the least applicable sections, since it is basically an investigation into logic itself, as opposed to teaching logic. I think as we get into the logic of the concept, it will become more reachable; also, logic becomes more practical as it approaches argumentation, so the beginning is the hardest part of it.
Finally, learning logic formally is frequently found to be iterative, certainly in translating this work I have found that to be the case.
At the end, it will be like having been through some mental weight-lifting.
Peter Kreeft has a textbook called Socratic Logic, which is an introduction to logic using Plato's questions and Aristotle's logical machinery, performed as Aristotle did, i.e., with words rather than symbols. I've got it on order.
As I say, I like to push forward on a broad front. It's so easy to think I understand something, and the sooner I realize that my understanding is lacking the better.
Oesterle's Logic is also good as an intro, as I remember.
I hope that Kreeft's is good, I only know his name from apologetics.
There are also some free resources at the Maritain center of Notre Dame.
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