The calculus of logic

In this groundbreaking treatise, the author shows how the mind’s reasoning about classes can be captured with a precise mathematical language. By treating statements about groups of objects as algebraic symbols, he builds a system where logical operations become equations that can be manipulated just like numbers. The approach reinterprets familiar syllogistic patterns through the lens of a symbolic calculus, revealing the hidden structure behind everyday language.

The work lays out a few fundamental laws—distributivity, commutativity, and an index law—that govern these symbols, and demonstrates how they echo everyday expressions such as “good wise man.” An overarching axiom asserts that equalities between classes persist when the same operations are applied to both sides, providing a firm foundation for logical deduction. Readers are guided through concrete examples that illustrate how this algebra of thought can solve logical problems systematically, offering a fresh perspective on the mechanics of inference.