This book contains the papers developing out the presentations given at the International Conference organized by the Torino Academy of Sciences and the Department of Mathematics Giuseppe Peano of the Torino University to celebrate the 150th anniversary of G. Peano's birth - one of the greatest figures in modern mathematics and logic and the most important mathematical logician in Italy - a century after the publication of Formulario Mathematico, a great attempt to systematise Mathematics in symbolic form.

All students of mathematics know of Peano's postulates for the natural numbers and his famous space-filling curve, yet their knowledge often stops there. Part of the reason is that there has not until now been a full-scale study of his life and works. This must surely be surprising, when one realizes the length of his academic career (over 50 years) and the extent of his publica tions (over 200) in a wide variety of fields, many of which had immediate and long-term effects on the development of modern mathematics. A study of his life seems long overdue. It appeared to me that the most likely person to write a biography of Peano would be his devoted disciple Ugo Cassina, with whom I studied at the University of Milan in 1957-58. I wrote to Professor Cassina on 29 October, 1963, inquiring if he planned to write the biography, and I offered him my assistance, since I hoped to return to Italy for a year. He replied on 28 November, 1963, suggesting that we collaborate, meaning by this that I would write the biography, in English, using his material and advice. I gladly agreed to this suggestion, but work on the project had hardly begun when Professor Cassina died unexpectedly on 5 October, 1964. I then decided to continue the project on my own. I spent the academic year 1966-67 in Turin; completion of the book took ten years.

In the decade before 1900, the Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano was one of the most original and influential pioneers of modern mathematical logic. He made significant contributions to the development of the foundations of mathematics and the axiomatic method (for example, his postulates for the natural numbers), dimension theory (including the space-filling curve), measure theory, vector analysis, differential equations, and the rigorization of analysis. Several of Peano's works have been translated into other languages; here for the first time is a generous selection of works translated into English. Fifteen articles, one booklet, and parts of two books and one monograph, published between 1883 and 1921, chosen with the interests of mathematicians and logicians in mind, are included. Each selection is preceded by an introductory note. The volume also contains a biographical sketch, a chronological list of Peano's publications (larger by one fifth than any previously published list), and a bibliography on the life and work of Peano. This selection will appeal especially to historians of mathematics and logic, but also to those mathematicians and logicians who wish to know more about how their subject came to be.

A straightforward guide to logic concepts Logic concepts are more mainstream than you may realize. There’s logic every place you look and in almost everything you do, from deciding which shirt to buy to asking your boss for a raise, and even to watching television, where themes of such shows as CSI and Numbers incorporate a variety of logistical studies. Logic For Dummies explains a vast array of logical concepts and processes in easy-to-understand language that make everything clear to you, whether you’re a college student of a student of life. You’ll find out about: Formal Logic Syllogisms Constructing proofs and refutations Propositional and predicate logic Modal and fuzzy logic Symbolic logic Deductive and inductive reasoning Logic For Dummies tracks an introductory logic course at the college level. Concrete, real-world examples help you understand each concept you encounter, while fully worked out proofs and fun logic problems encourage you students to apply what you’ve learned.

Calcolo Geometrico, G. Peano's first publication in mathematical logic, is a model of expository writing, with a significant impact on 20th century mathematics. Kannenberg's lucid and crisp translation, Geometric Calculus, will appeal to historians of mathematics, researchers, graduate students, and general readers interested in the foundations of mathematics and the development of a formal logical language. The book has never been reprinted in its entirety, and only two chapters have ever been translated into English. Readers of this valuable translation will gain insight into the work of a distinguished mathematician and founder of mathematical logic.