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Full Idea
Gödel in his completeness theorem for first-order logic showed that a certain set of syntactically specifiable rules was adequate to capture all first-order valid arguments. No semantics (e.g. reference, truth, validity) was necessary.
Gist of Idea
Basic logic can be done by syntax, with no semantics
Source
report of Kurt Gödel (On Formally Undecidable Propositions [1931]) by Georges Rey - Contemporary Philosophy of Mind 8.2
Book Ref
Rey,Georges: 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' [Blackwell 1997], p.212
A Reaction
This implies that a logic machine is possible, but we shouldn't raise our hopes for proper rationality. Validity can be shown for purely algebraic arguments, but rationality requires truth as well as validity, and that needs propositions and semantics.
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