Since Aristotle, logic has been considered a branch of philosophy. Logicians and philosophers teach in same academic departments at universities.
I’ve often wondered why. But I have a difficult time trying to explain why I’m baffled that the two enterprises are still under the same tent.
M.W. Rowe’s excellent biography of J.L. Austin has an interesting account of the American logician Willard Van Orman Quine. My courses in logic are more than 40 years old. While looking up some points, I ran across Quine’s obituary.
Quine, in addition to being a logician, was recognized for his work in the philosophy of science. But his love of science didn’t translate into a love of new technology. When personal computers were common, Quine held on to his typewriter, a 1927 Remington.
Because he used logical notation, Quine had to have some of the typewriter’s keys modified. The second period, second comma and the question mark had to go.
A reporter asked him whether he missed the question mark.
Quine replied that he dealt in certainties.
That story gets at my bafflement about logic and philosophy. Some philosophers would say that the question mark is the most important key on the keyboard.
• Sources: The anecdote about the typewriter is in Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, “W.V. Quine, Philosopher Who Analyzed Language and Reality, Dies at 92”; The New York Times, Dec. 29, 2000. It’s here:
M.W. Rowe, J.L. Austin: Philosopher & D-Day Intelligence Officer; Oxford University Press, 2023. Rowe has an account of Quine’s rejection of the analytic-synthetic distinction on p. 505. It’s clear and brief.
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