Logical Theory of Approximations

Abstract

It may seem surprising that the first formalized system aimed at capturing basic laws of thought and rules for reasoning had been conceived before the propositional calculus was recognized as a legitimate subject of independent study by the Stoic school. But such had been the case with the system of logic created by Aristotle of Stagira and known as The Syllogistic. One of reasons seems to be that propositional calculus was used by Aristotle intuitively, as a tool not in need of formalization, in his reasoning about syllogisms and the necessity for its more formal study had not been felt before the Stoic school undertook such a study.

To find out what is natural, we must study specimens which retain their nature and not those which have been corrupted

Aristotle, Politics, I, V