Logic Philosophy Spirituality

The Logician website makes available for study, free of charge, the full texts of the following published books by Avi Sion (that is about 500 web pages, or some 2400 letter-sized pages; plus a great number of supporting documents in .pdf format):

FUTURE LOGIC - Categorical and Conditional Deduction and Induction of the Natural, Temporal, Extensional, and Logical Modalities (1990; rev. ed. 1996). Preview selected results.

Future Logic is an original and wide-ranging treatise of formal logic. It deals with deduction and induction, of categorical and conditional propositions, involving the natural, temporal, extensional, and logical modalities. This is the first work ever to strictly formalize the inductive processes of generalization and particularization, through the novel methods of factorial analysis, factor selection and formula revision. This is the first work ever to develop a formal logic of the natural, temporal and extensional types of conditioning (as distinct from logical conditioning), including their production from modal categorical premises.

Phenomenology is the study of appearance as such. It is a branch of both Ontology and Epistemology, since appearing is being known. By an ‘appearance’ is meant any existent which impinges on consciousness, anything cognized, irrespective of any judgment as to whether it be ‘real’ or ‘illusory.’ The evaluation of a particular appearance as a reality or an illusion is a complex process, involving inductive and deductive logical principles and activities. Opinion has to earn the status of strict knowledge.

JUDAIC LOGIC - A Formal Analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic Logic (1995; Slatkine ed. 1997).

Judaic logic: A Formal Analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic Logic is an original inquiry into the forms of thought determining Jewish law and belief, from the impartial perspective of a logician. Judaic Logic attempts to honestly estimate the extent to which the logic employed within Judaism fits into the general norms, and whether it has any contributions to make to them.

Buddhist Illogic: A Critical analysis of Nagarjuna's Arguments. The 2nd Century CE Indian philosopher Nagarjuna founded the Madhyamika (Middle Way) school of Mahayana Buddhism, which strongly influenced Chinese, Korean and Japanese Buddhism, as well as Tibetan Buddhism. His writings include a series of arguments purporting to show the illogic of logic, the absurdity of reason. He considers this the way to verbalize and justify the Buddhist doctrine of “emptiness” (Shunyata). The present essay demonstrates the many sophistries involved in Nagarjuna’s arguments.

THE LOGIC OF CAUSATION - Definition, Induction and Deduction of Deterministic Causality (1999, 2003 & 2010).
New! Phase III is now truly completed and published in Third Edition of the printed book and online. Preview selected results.

The Logic of Causation is a treatise of formal logic and of aetiology. It is an original and wide-ranging investigation of the definition of causation (deterministic causality) in all its forms, and of the deduction and induction of such forms. The work was carried out in three phases over a dozen years (1998-2010), each phase introducing more sophisticated methods than the previous to solve outstanding problems. This study was intended as part of a larger work on causal logic, which additionally treats volition and allied cause-effect relations (2004).

VOLITION AND ALLIED CAUSAL CONCEPTS (2004).
Companion volume to The Logic of Causation, this is an important though so far little read work.

Volition and Allied Causal Concepts is a work of aetiology and metapsychology. Aetiology is the branch of philosophy and logic devoted to the study of causality (the cause-effect relation) in all its forms; and metapsychology is the study of the basic concepts common to all psychological discourse, most of which are causal. This is a work of ambitious scope, intent on finally resolving philosophical and logical issues that have always impeded progress in psychology.

Ruminations is a collection of sundry notes and essays on Logic. These complement and enrich the author’s past writings, further analyzing or reviewing certain issues. Some important new insights are included here, such as the inductive understanding of negation.

Meditations: A Spiritual Logbook. A meditation is a voluntary exercise intended to increase awareness, sustained over some time. The main purpose of the present Meditations is to inspire and assist readers to practice meditation of some sort, and in particular ‘sitting meditation’.

LOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS (2008). This comprises six shorter works, namely: Hume's Problems with Induction, A Short Critique of Kant's Unreason, In Defense of Aristotle's Laws of Thought, More Meditations, Zen Judaism and No to Sodom.

Logical and Spiritual Reflections is a collection of six shorter philosophical works, including: Hume’s Problems with Induction; A Short Critique of Kant’s Unreason; In Defense of Aristotle’s Laws of Thought; More Meditations; Zen Judaism; No to Sodom.

and OTHER WRITINGS - Four more published books, namely The Laws of Thought, The Self, Ethics and Theology are not displayed as such in this website, being "Thematic Compilations" drawn from the other books; however, approximate links to the various chapters/sections used in them may be found here. Among other things posted here is the political essay Logic in Defense of Zionism.

I am currently writing a book devoted mainly to the a fortiori argument and related topics. I have been hard at it for over two and a half years. I expect to complete it within the next few months. This is a large book, which includes some interesting theoretical innovations and historical findings, as well as critical commentaries on the work of many other writers in the field.

Please read the Copyright Notice. The writings published in TheLogician.net have all been copyrighted by their author at different times, and are thus under the full protection of international and pan-American copyright conventions.

The Logician now has a secure online BOOKSHOP, where paperback and eBook editions of all these books, and publications derived from them, can be purchased (far more cheaply than elsewhere). Do visit it! Many people, including me, find it easier to study from a paper book than reading on a computer screen. For the more technical topics, it would seem to me essential. If you would like a hardcopy book and cannot afford it (perhaps because you live in Europe or Asia and shipping charges from the U.S. seem too high), ask your local public or university library to order a copy at this address: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/thelogicianbooks or give them a copy of the The Logician Bookshop Catalogue.

All published books by Avi Sion can be consulted through the GOOGLE BOOKS facility. See also the listing in the Open Library.

Other external services: Check out AVI SION'S BLOG, which highlights various discoveries and ideas found in The Logician. You may post comments at the blog. The Logic Forum is a place where you can publish (free of charge) articles on logic, epistemology and related philosophical or scientific topics. The latter service also has a Guestbook and a Discussion Area to encourage feedback from you. (The Comments facility on The Logician website has been discontinued.)

If you come across any technical glitch, or any factual mistake or error of reasoning, please do report it and it will be quickly corrected with thanks. Likewise, if you have any other comments or queries you would like me to respond to personally, feel free to write to the following e-mail address: avi-sion@thelogician.net - but preferably use the Readers' Comments facility above described so other readers can partake and benefit. Please avoid personal questions and long dialogues.

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Study recommendations: These are large and complicated treatises, which attempt to answer certain ages-old philosophical questions in novel ways. They each took several years - thousands of hours - to develop and write, as their subject matters demanded; so do not expect to absorb them in a few minutes by reading a sentence here and a chapter there. They cannot be skimmed over casually, but require dedicated, attentive study over a long period of time. The most important chapters are not placed first or highlighted, but each subject is developed gradually and sequentially so that an intent student is sure to understand and profit.

Note that each book has an Abstract and a Table of Contents – look through these first, to get an overall picture. To gather momentum, read at least one chapter a week; but, to give yourself time to reflect, do not read more than one chapter a day. Always read the footnotes, they are intended as integral parts of the text. To navigate, use the buttons at the top (to choose a book), on the left (to choose a part or chapter) and at the bottom (to go to the next or previous chapter within a part), and of course your browser's back and forward arrows (to return to previously seen web pages). You can also use the General Sitemap.

Good reading! If you have the courage and you persevere, you will surely find it well worth the effort. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"...

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