Talk:Boolean algebra

Relationship of Boolean algebra and formal logic

Arguably, there is no difference between Boolean algebra and formal logic. But, as far as I know, only mathematicians and computer scientists talk about Boolean algebra per se, and their approach (including the symbols and the typical way of working out the deductive systems) is different from the philosophers' approach. ...And I can't say much more than that. I did add one sentence to this effect, but clearly, a lot more needs to be said in the article somewhere, somehow. --Larry Sanger 01:11, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

Larry: I imagine that Peter Schmitt can be more definitive on this subject. However, my guess is that (i) Boolean algebra is in fact not equivalent to formal logic, but is one of several frameworks, and (ii) high school algebra may have elements in common with Boolean algebra, but algebra in the abstract is a much bigger subject than either of these. John R. Brews 02:10, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply. You're surely right, they aren't equivalent. Boolean algebra is definitely a branch of mathematics, using the tools of math to model (maybe that's the wrong word) the sorts of rules and inferences that are covered by formal logic. How to state this with the most accuracy and usefulness to the non-mathematician lay reader would be far beyond me... --Larry Sanger 02:20, 18 July 2011 (UTC)