How did George Boole influence the view of logic as a calculus?

George Boole was a foundational figure in the development of the view of logic as a calculus ratiocinator—a tool primarily designed for drawing inferences. By applying algebraic methods to logical processes, he shifted the focus of logic away from philosophy and toward a symbolic system of mathematical reasoning.12

In his 1847 work, The Mathematical Analysis of Logic, being an Essay towards a Calculus of Deductive Reasoning, Boole argued that logic should be allied with mathematics. He demonstrated an analogy between algebraic symbols and logical forms, showing that symbols of quantity could be separated from those of operation. This allowed for the creation of a general symbolic method where, given any set of propositions, one could mechanically derive conclusions logically contained within the premises.2

This algebraic tradition, now known as Boolean algebra, treats logic as a system that can be theorized about, manipulated, and changed, contrasting with the view of logic as a universal language (lingua universalis). By enabling the use of truth-values as variables, Boole’s approach provided the essential framework for modern symbolic logic and the design of digital computer circuits.132