The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Logic

A state-of-the-art overview of ancient logic for students and scholars, with in-depth analyses of its central themes.

Luca Castagnoli (Edited by), Paolo Fait (Edited by)

9781107062948, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 March 2023

320 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 2.7 cm, 0.83 kg

This Companion provides a comprehensive guide to ancient logic. The first part charts its chronological development, focussing especially on the Greek tradition, and discusses its two main systems: Aristotle's logic of terms and the Stoic logic of propositions. The second part explores the key concepts at the heart of the ancient logical systems: truth, definition, terms, propositions, syllogisms, demonstrations, modality and fallacy. The systematic discussion of these concepts allows the reader to engage with some specific logical and exegetical issues and to appreciate their transformations across different philosophical traditions. The intersections between logic, mathematics and rhetoric are also explored. The third part of the volume discusses the reception and influence of ancient logic in the history of philosophy and its significance for philosophy in our own times. Comprehensive coverage, chapters by leading international scholars and a critical overview of the recent literature in the field will make this volume essential for students and scholars of ancient logic.

Part I. The Development of Logic in Antiquity: 1. The prehistory of logic Nicholas Denyer
2. Aristotle and Theophrastus Paolo Fait
3. Megarians and Stoics Karlheinz Hülser
4. Late antiquity Benjamin Morison
Part II. Key Themes: 5. Truth as a logical property and the laws of being true Walter Cavini
6. Definition Michael Ferejohn
7. Terms and propositions Paolo Crivelli
8. Validity and syllogism Luca Castagnoli and Paolo fait
9. Demonstration Alexander Bown
10. Modalities and modal logic Marko Malink
11. Fallacies and paradoxes Luca Castagnoli
12. Logic in ancient rhetoric Christof Rapp
13. Ancient logic and ancient mathematics Reviel Netz
Part III. The Legacy of Ancient Logic: 14. Ancient logic in the middle ages John Marenbon
15. Ancient logic from the Renaissance to the birth of mathematical logic Mirella Capozzi and Leila Haaparanta
16. Ancient logic today John Woods.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of mathematics [PBB], Philosophy: logic [HPL], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]