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The Informal Logic Of Mathematical Proof

  • Andrew Aberdein
Chapter
Part of the Logic, Epistemology, and the Unity of Science book series (LEUS, volume 5)

Abstract

Informal and formal logic are complementary methods of argument analysis. Informal logic provides a pragmatic treatment of features of argumentation which cannot be reduced to logical form. This paper shows how paying attention to aspects of mathematical argumentation captured by informal, but not formal, logic can offer a more nuanced understanding of mathematical proof and discovery.

Keywords

dialectic four colour theorem informal logic mathematical proof Stephen Toulmin Douglas Walton 
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Copyright information

© Springer 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Andrew Aberdein
    • 1
  1. 1.Florida Institute of TechnologyUSA

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