more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 12444

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / C. Ontology of Logic / 1. Ontology of Logic]

Full Idea

Logic is concerned with the real world just as truly as zoology, though with its more abstract and general features.

Gist of Idea

Logic is concerned with the real world just as truly as zoology

Source

Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XVI)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' [George Allen and Unwin 1975], p.169


A Reaction

I love this idea and am very sympathetic to it. The rival view seems to be that logic is purely conventional, perhaps defined by truth tables etc. It is hard to see how a connective like 'tonk' could be self-evidently silly if it wasn't 'unnatural'.