Often, in the original scientific writings, a double negated statement (DNS) is not equivalent to his corresponding positive one; that means the inferring law ¬¬A → A does not apply. Recent studies recognized in the failure of this logical law the borderline between classical and non-classical logics. Original writings by classical chemists dealing with the problem of atomism are particularly characterized by the occurrences of DNSs. An historical case, Avogadro's contribution to atomism (i.e. the well-known hypothesis about the constitution of gases), is here analyzed in such terms. It turns out that, in order to support his ideas, Avogadro suggested several ad absurdum proofs, indeed a way of reasoning typically linked to the use of DNSs. Copyright © 1999 by HYLE and Antonino Drago & Romina Oliva.
Atomism and the reasoning by a non-classical logic
Oliva R.
1999-01-01
Abstract
Often, in the original scientific writings, a double negated statement (DNS) is not equivalent to his corresponding positive one; that means the inferring law ¬¬A → A does not apply. Recent studies recognized in the failure of this logical law the borderline between classical and non-classical logics. Original writings by classical chemists dealing with the problem of atomism are particularly characterized by the occurrences of DNSs. An historical case, Avogadro's contribution to atomism (i.e. the well-known hypothesis about the constitution of gases), is here analyzed in such terms. It turns out that, in order to support his ideas, Avogadro suggested several ad absurdum proofs, indeed a way of reasoning typically linked to the use of DNSs. Copyright © 1999 by HYLE and Antonino Drago & Romina Oliva.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
