The historical sources of tree graphs and the tree method in the work of Peirce and Gentzen

Irving H. Anellis

Francine F. Abeles

pp. 35-97

in: Francine F. Abeles, Mark E. Fuller (eds), Modern logic 1850-1950, East and West, Basel, Birkhäuser, 2016

Abstract

Charles Peirce's development of his diagrammatic logic, his entitative and existential graphs, was significantly influenced by his affinity for tree graphs that were being used in chemistry. In his development of systems of natural deduction and sequent calculi, Gerhard Gentzen made use of the tree (tableau) method. In presenting the historical sources of both these tools, we draw on unpublished manuscripts from the Peirce Edition Project at the University of Indianapolis, where for many years the first author was a member of the research staff.

Cited authors

Peirce Charles Sanders

Gentzen Gerhard