ProofWiki:Mathematicians/George Boole

Irish mathematician famous for his work in the mathematization of logic, and the invention of what is now called Boolean algebra.

Nationality

Irish

History

• Born: 2 Nov 1815, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
• Died: 8 Dec 1864, Ballintemple, County Cork, Ireland

Theorems and Definitions

Many mathematical objects have been named after Boole. However, most were not invented or discovered by him directly, but were derived from the algebra that he did pioneer.

• Boolean Algebra
• Boolean Domain
• Boolean Function
• Boolean Ring
• Boolean Variable
• Boolean-Valued Function
• Boole's Inequality

Books and Papers

• 1842: On a general method of analysis (published 1844)
• 1847: Mathematical Analysis of Logic
• 1854: An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, on Which are Founded the Mathematical Theories of Logic and Probabilities
• 1859: Treatise on Differential Equations
• 1860: Treatise on the Calculus of Finite Differences (2nd Edition 1872)

See also

• John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "George Boole": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive

• Eric Temple Bell: Men of Mathematics (1937): Chapter $\text{XXIII}$