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KF5JRV > TECH 16.04.16 12:31l 51 Lines 2657 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 1601_KF5JRV
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Subj: Logic Machine
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Sent: 160416/1124Z 1601@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
Logical Machines for the Production of Knowledge 1305
Around 1305 Majorcan writer and philosopher Ramon Llull published in
his Ars generalis ultima or Ars magna (the "The Ultimate
General Art") a method of combining religious and philosophical
attributes selected from a number of lists, which he invented about
1275. It is believed that Llull's inspiration for the Ars magna came
from observing Arab astrologers using a mechanical device called a
zairja to calculate ideas.
Llull's method
"was intended as a debating tool for winning Muslims to the Christian
faith through logic and reason. Through his detailed analytical efforts,
Llull built an in-depth theological reference by which a reader could
enter in an argument or question about the Christian faith. The reader
would then turn to the appropriate index and page to find the correct
answer.
"Llull also invented numerous 'machines' for the purpose. One method is
now called the Lullian Circle, each of which consisted of two or more
paper discs inscribed with alphabetical letters or symbols that referred
to lists of attributes. The discs could be rotated individually to
generate a large number of combinations of ideas. A number of terms,
or symbols relating to those terms, were laid around the full
circumference of the circle. They were then repeated on an inner
circle which could be rotated. These combinations were said to show
all possible truth about the subject of the circle. Llull based this
on the notion that there were a limited number of basic, undeniable
truths in all fields of knowledge, and that we could understand
everything about these fields of knowledge by studying combinations
of these elemental truths.
"The method was an early attempt to use logical means to produce
knowledge. Llull hoped to show that Christian doctrines could be
obtained artificially from a fixed set of preliminary ideas. For
example, one of the tables listed the attributes of God: goodness,
greatness, eternity, power, wisdom, will , virtue, truth and glory.
Llull knew that all believers in the monotheistic religions - whether
Jews, Muslims or Christians - would agree with these attributes,
giving him a firm platform from which to argue.
"The idea was developed further by Giordano Bruno in the 16th century,
and by Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century for investigations into
the philosophy of science.
"Leibniz gave Llull's idea the name "ars combinatoria", by which it is
now often known. Some computer scientists have adopted Llull as a sort
of founding father, claiming that his system of logic was the beginning
of information science".
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