Logic as a Narrative

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors present an argument which can be called “logic as a narrative.” First, they consider two different types of systems concerning logic. One is formal logic, which is ordinarily called mere logic. Another one is a collective of knowledge that we may not regard as logic at first glance. The argument of “logic as a narrative” starts with a comparison between two types of logical systems. Formal logic, which is often handled as mathematical logic nowadays, can be regarded as one of the mathematics, as the name itself indicates. As well as the other mathematical systems, formal logic is formalized and schematized by axioms; hence, it is also an axiomatic system. All the propositions are described axiomatically; thus, axioms and application rules of axioms precede propositions. Outside situations that are not supposed in an axiomatic system cannot be naturally represented by the system. The expressive power depends on each system. As a result, the description by mathematical logic becomes static and the system itself is regarded as a non-dynamic one.