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What is the teleology of logic? Every body of knowledge has to have a teleology for which it's designed. The body of knowledge in logic doesn't clearly have any teleology or any purpose to which it has been designed. Whether it is mechanization of language calculations or just formalizing language, what use is symbolic logic meant to have eventually?

I was reading Modal Logic and all the axioms with the manipulation of symbols made me think, what does all this really amount to? Will there be another Charles Babbage who would make use of all these axioms and logic systems? Why build logic systems by adding more and more axioms? Why can't there be a single Logic system rather than this progressive increase in systems by adding axioms to previous systems? Why are deontic logic systems constructed? What benefit will philosophers or scientists accrue from them? There are many such questions that occupy my mind.

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    "Every body of knowledge has to have a teleology for which it's designed. " WHY ? Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 14:42
  • What does an answer to this question look like to you? (For instance, would the idea be relevant that one goal of logic is clearer, more consistent and more coherent thinking and speaking?) —It might also help to share what you might have been reading or studying that sparked this question, or made it interesting/important from a philosophical perspective to you Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 14:44
  • Welcome to SE Philosophy! Thanks for your contribution. Please take a quick moment to take the tour or find help. You can perform searches here or seek additional clarification at the meta site. Don't forget, when someone has answered your question, you can click on the checkmark to reward the user! Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 15:01
  • I think I know what you are asking. In an important sense teleology is gone, it is an historical artifact. But what you are speaking of seems more to me like Sociology of Knowledge study of ideology (broadly construed). For instance, what is really going on with all this “logic talk” and so on, what is the net effect, what is the philosophical “big move”? The problem is Sociology of Knowledge is almost dead today. It probably should not be dead, it may wake up again. Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 16:14
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    You are in the right track imo. Your intuition is good. The fact-value dichotomy came out of logical positivism. You may want to read Hilary Putnam��s book on the subject. Here is a video with Putnam discussing the problem. I apologize to other members that I keep posting this video. If this video means nothing to you now, it think it will one day as you continue to pursue your thoughts. m.youtube.com/watch?v=oLJfEVu3kbY Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 16:49

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What is the teleology of logic?

None. Logic is the study of deductive reasoning, today mainly applied to mathematical reasoning through the modern form of formal logic: mathematical logic.

I was reading Modal Logic and all the axioms with the manipulation of symbols made me think what does all this really amount to? Will there be another Charles Babbage who would make use of all these talks of axioms and Logic systems?

You can see the post What are the practical applications of modal logic? as well as Dynamic logic: "an extension of modal logic originally intended for reasoning about computer programs".

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