George Boole
An English mathematician and philosopher, creator of Boolean algebra, which is fundamental to computer science.
Most quoted
"The design of the following treatise is to investigate the fundamental laws of those operations of the mind by which reasoning is performed; to give expression to them in the language of a Calculus, and upon this foundation to establish the science of Logic and construct its method; to make that method itself the basis of a general method for the application of the mathematical doctrine of Probabilities; and, finally, to collect from the various elements of truth brought to view in the course of these inquiries some probable intimations concerning the nature and constitution of the human mind."
— from An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, 1854
"The design of the following treatise is to investigate the fundamental laws of those operations of the mind by which reasoning is performed; to give expression to them in the language of a Calculus, and upon this foundation to establish the science of Logic and construct its method; to make that method itself the basis of a general method for the application of the mathematical doctrine of Probabilities; and finally, to collect from the various elements of truth brought to view in the course of these inquiries some probable intimations concerning the nature and constitution of the human mind."
— from An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, 1854
"We may in fact lay aside the logical interpretation of the symbols in the given equation; convert them into quantitative symbols, susceptible only of the values 0 and 1; perform upon them as such all the requisite processes of solution; and finally restore to them their logical interpretation."
— from An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, 1854
All quotes by George Boole (339)
The validity of the laws of logic does not depend on the nature of the objects reasoned about.
The symbols of logic are subject to definite laws, partly agreeing with and partly differing from the laws of the corresponding symbols in Algebra.
I am now about to set seriously to work upon preparing for the press an account of my theory of Logic and Probabilities.
The mathematical analysis of logic has been, perhaps, the most fruitful of the applications of symbolic reasoning.
The unity of the subject of logic is not broken by the diversity of its applications.
The laws of thought, in all its processes, are mathematical in their form.
The constitution of the human mind is the ultimate foundation of all logic.
We may in fact lay aside the logical interpretation of the symbols in the given equation; convert them into quantitative symbols, susceptible only of the values 0 and 1; perform upon them as such all the requisite processes of solution; and finally restore to them their logical interpretation.
The theory of probabilities is, at bottom, only common sense reduced to calculation.
It is a remarkable fact in the history of science that the greatest advances have been made at those points where two different lines of thought have met.
The pursuit of knowledge is the highest calling.
The true purpose of logic is to give, in their simplest forms, the laws which govern the operations of the understanding.
The universe is a system of relations.
The mind, in its reasoning, proceeds by a series of steps, each of which is simple and definite.
The fundamental laws of thought are the foundation of all exact reasoning.
The study of logic is essential to the correct understanding of any science.
The language of symbols is the most universal of all languages.
The laws of thought are the laws of things.
The process of reasoning is a mechanical one, and can be performed by a machine.
The aim of science is to seek the simplest explanations of complex facts.
Contemporaries of George Boole
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of George Boole (1815–1864).