Minds, Bodies, and Machines

Abstract

One of the most significant results to be derived from studies of this kind concerns the central role of logic in formalizing and understanding different schemes for representing knowledge. Although there are those, such as Minsky, who dispute the suitability of logic for this purpose, their positions tend to derive such plausibility as they possess from focusing upon an extremely limited conception of the logical domain. The field of logic is not restricted to sentential logic, predicate logic, or even enhanced versions of predicate logic, but derives its character from the study of logical form, where “logical form” encompasses every formal property of any semiotic domain that might possibly be theoretically relevant to its semantical and pragmatical properties. [Cf., for example, Prior (1967a) and (1967b), but especially Cargile (1984).] The specific subjects that happen to be pursued by specific students of logic at specific times no doubt reflect matters of current and continuing interest, but the field itself has enduring significance for that of artificial intelligence.