Directory talk:Jon Awbrey/Papers/Differential Logic : Introduction

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Quick Overview

Cactus Language for Propositional Logic

The development of differential logic is greatly facilitated by having a conceptually efficient calculus in place at the level of boolean-valued functions and elementary logical propositions. A calculus that is very efficient from both conceptual and computational standpoints is based on just two types of logical connectives, both of variable \(k\!\)-ary scope. The formulas of this calculus map into a species of graph-theoretical structures called painted and rooted cacti (PARCs) that lend visual representation to their functional structure and smooth the path to efficient computation.

The first kind of propositional expression is a parenthesized sequence of propositional expressions, written as \(\texttt{(} e_1 \texttt{,} e_2 \texttt{,} \ldots \texttt{,} e_{k-1} \texttt{,} e_k \texttt{)}\!\) and read to say that exactly one of the propositions \(e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!\) is false, in other words, that their minimal negation is true. A clause of this form maps into a PARC structure called a lobe, in this case, one that is painted with the colors \(e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!\) as shown below.
Cactus Graph Lobe Connective.jpg
The second kind of propositional expression is a concatenated sequence of propositional expressions, written as \(e_1\ e_2\ \ldots\ e_{k-1}\ e_k\!\) and read to say that all of the propositions \(e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!\) are true, in other words, that their logical conjunction is true. A clause of this form maps into a PARC structure called a node, in this case, one that is painted with the colors \(e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!\) as shown below.
Cactus Graph Node Connective.jpg

All other propositional connectives can be obtained through combinations of these two forms. Strictly speaking, the parenthesized form is sufficient to define the concatenated form, making the latter formally dispensable, but it is convenient to maintain it as a concise way of expressing more complicated combinations of parenthesized forms. While working with expressions solely in propositional calculus, it is easiest to use plain parentheses for logical connectives. In contexts where ordinary parentheses are needed for other purposes an alternate typeface \(\texttt{(} \ldots \texttt{)}\!\) may be used for logical operators.

Table 1 collects a sample of basic propositional forms as expressed in terms of cactus language connectives.


\(\text{Table 1.}~~\text{Syntax and Semantics of a Calculus for Propositional Logic}\!\)
\(\text{Graph}\!\) \(\text{Expression}~\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\) \(\text{Other Notations}\!\)
Rooted Node.jpg \(~\!\) \(\mathrm{true}\!\) \(1\!\)
Rooted Edge.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\!\) \(\mathrm{false}\!\) \(0\!\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a\!\) \(a\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\!\) \(\mathrm{not}~ a\!\) \(\lnot a \quad \bar{a} \quad \tilde{a} \quad a^\prime~\!\)
Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a ~ b ~ c\!\) \(a ~\mathrm{and}~ b ~\mathrm{and}~ c\!\) \(a \land b \land c\!\)
Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\!\) \(a ~\mathrm{or}~ b ~\mathrm{or}~ c\!\) \(a \lor b \lor c\!\)
Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\mathrm{implies}~ b \\[6pt] \mathrm{if}~ a ~\mathrm{then}~ b \end{matrix}\!\)

\(a \Rightarrow b\!\)
Cactus (A,B) Big ISW.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\mathrm{not~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\mathrm{exclusive~or}~ b \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \neq b \\[6pt] a + b \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\mathrm{is~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\mathrm{if~and~only~if}~ b \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[6pt] a \Leftrightarrow b \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \mathrm{is~false}. \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{a} ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ b ~ \bar{c} \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \mathrm{is~true}. \\[6pt] \mathrm{partition~all} \\ \mathrm{into}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus (A,(B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{oddly~many~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \mathrm{are~true}. \end{matrix}\!\)

\(a + b + c\!\)


\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus (X,(A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} x \texttt{,(} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{partition}~ x \\ \mathrm{into}~ a, b, c. \\[6pt] \mathrm{genus}~ x ~\mathrm{comprises} \\ \mathrm{species}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{x} ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}~\!\)


The simplest expression for logical truth is the empty word, usually denoted by \(\boldsymbol\varepsilon\!\) or \(\lambda\!\) in formal languages, where it forms the identity element for concatenation. To make it visible in context, it may be denoted by the equivalent expression \({}^{\backprime\backprime} \texttt{((~))} {}^{\prime\prime},\!\) or, especially if operating in an algebraic context, by a simple \({}^{\backprime\backprime} 1 {}^{\prime\prime}.\!\) Also when working in an algebraic mode, the plus sign \({}^{\backprime\backprime} + {}^{\prime\prime}\!\) may be used for exclusive disjunction. For example, we have the following paraphrases of algebraic expressions by means of parenthesized expressions:

\(\begin{matrix} a + b & = & \texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a + b + c & = & \texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))} & = & \texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{),} c \texttt{)} \end{matrix}\!\)

It is important to note that the last expressions are not equivalent to the 3-place parenthesis \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}.\!\)

Differential Expansions of Propositions

Bird's Eye View

An efficient calculus for the realm of logic represented by boolean functions and elementary propositions makes it feasible to compute the finite differences and the differentials of those functions and propositions.

For example, consider a proposition of the form \({}^{\backprime\backprime} \, p ~\mathrm{and}~ q \, {}^{\prime\prime}\!\) that is graphed as two letters attached to a root node:

Cactus Graph Existential P And Q.jpg

Written as a string, this is just the concatenation \(p~q\!\).

The proposition \(pq\!\) may be taken as a boolean function \(f(p, q)\!\) having the abstract type \(f : \mathbb{B} \times \mathbb{B} \to \mathbb{B},\!\) where \(\mathbb{B} = \{ 0, 1 \}~\!\) is read in such a way that \(0\!\) means \(\mathrm{false}\!\) and \(1\!\) means \(\mathrm{true}.\!\)

Imagine yourself standing in a fixed cell of the corresponding venn diagram, say, the cell where the proposition \(pq\!\) is true, as shown in the following Figure:

Venn Diagram P And Q.jpg

Now ask yourself: What is the value of the proposition \(pq\!\) at a distance of \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) and \(\mathrm{d}q\!\) from the cell \(pq\!\) where you are standing?

Don't think about it — just compute:

Cactus Graph (P,dP)(Q,dQ).jpg

The cactus formula \(\texttt{(p, dp)(q, dq)}\!\) and its corresponding graph arise by substituting \(p + \mathrm{d}p\!\) for \(p\!\) and \(q + \mathrm{d}q\!\) for \(q\!\) in the boolean product or logical conjunction \(pq\!\) and writing the result in the two dialects of cactus syntax. This follows from the fact that the boolean sum \(p + \mathrm{d}p\!\) is equivalent to the logical operation of exclusive disjunction, which parses to a cactus graph of the following form:

Cactus Graph (P,dP) ISW.jpg

Next question: What is the difference between the value of the proposition \(pq\!\) over there, at a distance of \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) and \(\mathrm{d}q,\!\) and the value of the proposition \(pq\!\) where you are standing, all expressed in the form of a general formula, of course? Here is the appropriate formulation:

Cactus Graph ((P,dP)(Q,dQ),PQ).jpg

There is one thing that I ought to mention at this point: Computed over \(\mathbb{B},\!\) plus and minus are identical operations. This will make the relation between the differential and the integral parts of the appropriate calculus slightly stranger than usual, but we will get into that later.

Last question, for now: What is the value of this expression from your current standpoint, that is, evaluated at the point where \(pq\!\) is true? Well, substituting \(1\!\) for \(p\!\) and \(1\!\) for \(q\!\) in the graph amounts to erasing the labels \(p\!\) and \(q\!,\!\) as shown here:

Cactus Graph (( ,dP)( ,dQ), ).jpg

And this is equivalent to the following graph:

Cactus Graph ((dP)(dQ)) ISW.jpg

We have just met with the fact that the differential of the and is the or of the differentials.

\(\begin{matrix} p ~\mathrm{and}~ q & \quad & \xrightarrow{\quad\mathrm{Diff}\quad} & \quad & \mathrm{d}p ~\mathrm{or}~ \mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus Graph PQ Diff ((dP)(dQ)).jpg

It will be necessary to develop a more refined analysis of that statement directly, but that is roughly the nub of it.

If the form of the above statement reminds you of De Morgan's rule, it is no accident, as differentiation and negation turn out to be closely related operations. Indeed, one can find discussions of logical difference calculus in the Boole–De Morgan correspondence and Peirce also made use of differential operators in a logical context, but the exploration of these ideas has been hampered by a number of factors, not the least of which has been the lack of a syntax that was adequate to handle the complexity of expressions that evolve.

Worm's Eye View

Let's run through the initial example again, this time attempting to interpret the formulas that develop at each stage along the way. We begin with a proposition or a boolean function \(f(p, q) = pq.\!\)

Venn Diagram F = P And Q ISW.jpg
Cactus Graph F = P And Q ISW.jpg

A function like this has an abstract type and a concrete type. The abstract type is what we invoke when we write things like \(f : \mathbb{B} \times \mathbb{B} \to \mathbb{B}\!\) or \(f : \mathbb{B}^2 \to \mathbb{B}.\!\) The concrete type takes into account the qualitative dimensions or the “units” of the case, which can be explained as follows.

Let \(P\!\) be the set of values \(\{ \texttt{(} p \texttt{)},~ p \} ~=~ \{ \mathrm{not}~ p,~ p \} ~\cong~ \mathbb{B}.\!\)
Let \(Q\!\) be the set of values \(\{ \texttt{(} q \texttt{)},~ q \} ~=~ \{ \mathrm{not}~ q,~ q \} ~\cong~ \mathbb{B}.\!\)

Then interpret the usual propositions about \(p, q\!\) as functions of the concrete type \(f : P \times Q \to \mathbb{B}.\!\)

We are going to consider various operators on these functions. Here, an operator \(\mathrm{F}\!\) is a function that takes one function \(f\!\) into another function \(\mathrm{F}f.\!\)

The first couple of operators that we need to consider are logical analogues of the pair that play a founding role in the classical finite difference calculus, namely:

The difference operator \(\Delta,\!\) written here as \(\mathrm{D}.\!\)
The enlargement operator \(\Epsilon,\!\) written here as \(\mathrm{E}.\!\)

These days, \(\mathrm{E}\!\) is more often called the shift operator.

In order to describe the universe in which these operators operate, it is necessary to enlarge the original universe of discourse. Starting from the initial space \(X = P \times Q,\!\) its (first order) differential extension \(\mathrm{E}X\!\) is constructed according to the following specifications:

\(\begin{array}{rcc} \mathrm{E}X & = & X \times \mathrm{d}X \end{array}\!\)

where:

\(\begin{array}{rcc} X & = & P \times Q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}X & = & \mathrm{d}P \times \mathrm{d}Q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}P & = & \{ \texttt{(} \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)},~ \mathrm{d}p \} \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}Q & = & \{ \texttt{(} \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)},~ \mathrm{d}q \} \end{array}\!\)

The interpretations of these new symbols can be diverse, but the easiest option for now is just to say that \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) means “change \(p\!\)” and \(\mathrm{d}q\!\) means “change \(q\!\)”.

Drawing a venn diagram for the differential extension \(\mathrm{E}X = X \times \mathrm{d}X\!\) requires four logical dimensions, \(P, Q, \mathrm{d}P, \mathrm{d}Q,\!\) but it is possible to project a suggestion of what the differential features \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) and \(\mathrm{d}q\!\) are about on the 2-dimensional base space \(X = P \times Q\!\) by drawing arrows that cross the boundaries of the basic circles in the venn diagram for \(X,\!\) reading an arrow as \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) if it crosses the boundary between \(p\!\) and \(\texttt{(} p \texttt{)}\!\) in either direction and reading an arrow as \(\mathrm{d}q\!\) if it crosses the boundary between \(q\!\) and \(\texttt{(} q \texttt{)}\!\) in either direction.

Venn Diagram P Q dP dQ.jpg

Propositions are formed on differential variables, or any combination of ordinary logical variables and differential logical variables, in the same ways that propositions are formed on ordinary logical variables alone. For example, the proposition \(\texttt{(} \mathrm{d}p \texttt{(} \mathrm{d}q \texttt{))}\!\) says the same thing as \(\mathrm{d}p \Rightarrow \mathrm{d}q,\!\) in other words, that there is no change in \(p\!\) without a change in \(q.\!\)

Given the proposition \(f(p, q)\!\) over the space \(X = P \times Q,\!\) the (first order) enlargement of \(f\!\) is the proposition \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) over the differential extension \(\mathrm{E}X\!\) that is defined by the following formula:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & f(p + \mathrm{d}p,~ q + \mathrm{d}q) & = & f( \texttt{(} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)},~ \texttt{(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} ) \end{matrix}\!\)

In the example \(f(p, q) = pq,\!\) the enlargement \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) is computed as follows:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & (p + \mathrm{d}p)(q + \mathrm{d}q) & = & \texttt{(} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus Graph Ef = (P,dP)(Q,dQ).jpg

Given the proposition \(f(p, q)\!\) over \(X = P \times Q,\!\) the (first order) difference of \(f\!\) is the proposition \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) over \(\mathrm{E}X\!\) that is defined by the formula \(\mathrm{D}f = \mathrm{E}f - f,\!\) or, written out in full:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{D}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & f(p + \mathrm{d}p,~ q + \mathrm{d}q) - f(p, q) & = & \texttt{(} f( \texttt{(} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)},~ \texttt{(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} ),~ f(p, q) \texttt{)} \end{matrix}\!\)

In the example \(f(p, q) = pq,\!\) the difference \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) is computed as follows:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{D}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & (p + \mathrm{d}p)(q + \mathrm{d}q) - pq & = & \texttt{((} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)}, pq \texttt{)} \end{matrix}\!\)

Cactus Graph Df = ((P,dP)(Q,dQ),PQ).jpg

We did not yet go through the trouble to interpret this (first order) difference of conjunction fully, but were happy simply to evaluate it with respect to a single location in the universe of discourse, namely, at the point picked out by the singular proposition \(pq,\!\) that is, at the place where \(p = 1\!\) and \(q = 1.\!\) This evaluation is written in the form \(\mathrm{D}f|_{pq}\!\) or \(\mathrm{D}f|_{(1, 1)},\!\) and we arrived at the locally applicable law that is stated and illustrated as follows:

\(f(p, q) ~=~ pq ~=~ p ~\mathrm{and}~ q \quad \Rightarrow \quad \mathrm{D}f|_{pq} ~=~ \texttt{((} \mathrm{dp} \texttt{)(} \mathrm{d}q \texttt{))} ~=~ \mathrm{d}p ~\mathrm{or}~ \mathrm{d}q\!\)

Venn Diagram PQ Difference Conj At Conj.jpg
Cactus Graph PQ Difference Conj At Conj.jpg

The picture shows the analysis of the inclusive disjunction \(\texttt{((} \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)(} \mathrm{d}q \texttt{))}\!\) into the following exclusive disjunction:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}p ~\texttt{(} \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} & + & \texttt{(} \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)}~ \mathrm{d}q & + & \mathrm{d}p ~\mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

The differential proposition that results may be interpreted to say “change \(p\!\) or change \(q\!\) or both”. And this can be recognized as just what you need to do if you happen to find yourself in the center cell and require a complete and detailed description of ways to escape it.

Last time we computed what is variously called the difference map, the difference proposition, or the local proposition \(\mathrm{D}f_x\!\) of the proposition \(f(p, q) = pq\!\) at the point \(x\!\) where \(p = 1\!\) and \(q = 1.\!\)

In the universe \(X = P \times Q,\!\) the four propositions \(pq,~ p \texttt{(} q \texttt{)},~ \texttt{(} p \texttt{)} q,~ \texttt{(} p \texttt{)(} q \texttt{)}\!\) that indicate the “cells”, or the smallest regions of the venn diagram, are called singular propositions. These serve as an alternative notation for naming the points \((1, 1),~ (1, 0),~ (0, 1),~ (0, 0),\!\) respectively.

Thus we can write \(\mathrm{D}f_x = \mathrm{D}f|x = \mathrm{D}f|(1, 1) = \mathrm{D}f|pq,\!\) so long as we know the frame of reference in force.

In the example \(f(p, q) = pq,\!\) the value of the difference proposition \(\mathrm{D}f_x\!\) at each of the four points in \(x \in X\!\) may be computed in graphical fashion as shown below:

Cactus Graph Df = ((P,dP)(Q,dQ),PQ).jpg
Cactus Graph Df@PQ = ((dP)(dQ)).jpg
Cactus Graph Df@P(Q) = (dP)dQ.jpg
Cactus Graph Df@(P)Q = dP(dQ) ISW Alt.jpg
Cactus Graph Df@(P)(Q) = dP dQ.jpg

The easy way to visualize the values of these graphical expressions is just to notice the following equivalents:

Cactus Graph Lobe Rule.jpg
Cactus Graph Spike Rule.jpg

Laying out the arrows on the augmented venn diagram, one gets a picture of a differential vector field.

Venn Diagram PQ Difference Conj.jpg

The Figure shows the points of the extended universe \(\mathrm{E}X = P \times Q \times \mathrm{d}P \times \mathrm{d}Q\!\) that are indicated by the difference map \(\mathrm{D}f : \mathrm{E}X \to \mathbb{B},\!\) namely, the following six points or singular propositions::

\(\begin{array}{rcccc} 1. & p & q & \mathrm{d}p & \mathrm{d}q \\ 2. & p & q & \mathrm{d}p & (\mathrm{d}q) \\ 3. & p & q & (\mathrm{d}p) & \mathrm{d}q \\ 4. & p & (q) & (\mathrm{d}p) & \mathrm{d}q \\ 5. & (p) & q & \mathrm{d}p & (\mathrm{d}q) \\ 6. & (p) & (q) & \mathrm{d}p & \mathrm{d}q \end{array}\!\)

The information borne by \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) should be clear enough from a survey of these six points — they tell you what you have to do from each point of \(X\!\) in order to change the value borne by \(f(p, q),\!\) that is, the move you have to make in order to reach a point where the value of the proposition \(f(p, q)\!\) is different from what it is where you started.

We have been studying the action of the difference operator \(\mathrm{D}\!\) on propositions of the form \(f : P \times Q \to \mathbb{B},\!\) as illustrated by the example \(f(p, q) = pq\!\) that is known in logic as the conjunction of \(p\!\) and \(q.\!\) The resulting difference map \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) is a (first order) differential proposition, that is, a proposition of the form \(\mathrm{D}f : P \times Q \times \mathrm{d}P \times \mathrm{d}Q \to \mathbb{B}.\!\)

Abstracting from the augmented venn diagram that shows how the models or satisfying interpretations of \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) distribute over the extended universe of discourse \(\mathrm{E}X = P \times Q \times \mathrm{d}P \times \mathrm{d}Q,\!\) the difference map \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) can be represented in the form of a digraph or directed graph, one whose points are labeled with the elements of \(X = P \times Q\!\) and whose arrows are labeled with the elements of \(\mathrm{d}X = \mathrm{d}P \times \mathrm{d}Q,\!\) as shown in the following Figure.

Directed Graph PQ Difference Conj.jpg

\(\begin{array}{rcccccc} f & = & p & \cdot & q \\[4pt] \mathrm{D}f & = & p & \cdot & q & \cdot & ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] & + & p & \cdot & (q) & \cdot & ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] & + & (p) & \cdot & q & \cdot & ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] & + & (p) & \cdot & (q) & \cdot & ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \end{array}\!\)

Any proposition worth its salt can be analyzed from many different points of view, any one of which has the potential to reveal an unsuspected aspect of the proposition's meaning. We will encounter more and more of these alternative readings as we go.

The enlargement or shift operator \(\mathrm{E}\!\) exhibits a wealth of interesting and useful properties in its own right, so it pays to examine a few of the more salient features that play out on the surface of our initial example, \(f(p, q) = pq.\!\)

A suitably generic definition of the extended universe of discourse is afforded by the following set-up:

\(\begin{array}{lccl} \text{Let} & X & = & X_1 \times \ldots \times X_k. \\[6pt] \text{Let} & \mathrm{d}X & = & \mathrm{d}X_1 \times \ldots \times \mathrm{d}X_k. \\[6pt] \text{Then} & \mathrm{E}X & = & X \times \mathrm{d}X \\[6pt] & & = & X_1 \times \ldots \times X_k ~\times~ \mathrm{d}X_1 \times \ldots \times \mathrm{d}X_k \end{array}\!\)

For a proposition of the form \(f : X_1 \times \ldots \times X_k \to \mathbb{B},\!\) the (first order) enlargement of \(f\!\) is the proposition \(\mathrm{E}f : \mathrm{E}X \to \mathbb{B}\!\) that is defined by the following equation:

\(\begin{array}{l} \mathrm{E}f(x_1, \ldots, x_k, \mathrm{d}x_1, \ldots, \mathrm{d}x_k) \\[6pt] = \quad f(x_1 + \mathrm{d}x_1, \ldots, x_k + \mathrm{d}x_k) \\[6pt] = \quad f( \texttt{(} x_1, \mathrm{d}x_1 \texttt{)}, \ldots, \texttt{(} x_k, \mathrm{d}x_k \texttt{)} ) \end{array}\!\)

The differential variables \(\mathrm{d}x_j\!\) are boolean variables of the same basic type as the ordinary variables \(x_j.\!\) Although it is conventional to distinguish the (first order) differential variables with the operative prefix “\(\mathrm{d}\!\)” this way of notating differential variables is entirely optional. It is their existence in particular relations to the initial variables, not their names, that defines them as differential variables.

In the example of logical conjunction, \(f(p, q) = pq,\!\) the enlargement \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) is formulated as follows:

\(\begin{array}{l} \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) \\[6pt] = \quad (p + \mathrm{d}p)(q + \mathrm{d}q) \\[6pt] = \quad \texttt{(} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} \end{array}\!\)

Given that this expression uses nothing more than the boolean ring operations of addition and multiplication, it is permissible to “multiply things out” in the usual manner to arrive at the following result:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & p~q & + & p~\mathrm{d}q & + & q~\mathrm{d}p & + & \mathrm{d}p~\mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

To understand what the enlarged or shifted proposition means in logical terms, it serves to go back and analyze the above expression for \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) in the same way that we did for \(\mathrm{D}f.\!\) Toward that end, the value of \(\mathrm{E}f_x\!\) at each \(x \in X\!\) may be computed in graphical fashion as shown below:

Cactus Graph Ef = (P,dP)(Q,dQ).jpg
Cactus Graph Ef@PQ = (dP)(dQ).jpg
Cactus Graph Ef@P(Q) = (dP)dQ.jpg
Cactus Graph Ef@(P)Q = dP(dQ).jpg
Cactus Graph Ef@(P)(Q) = dP dQ.jpg

Given the data that develops in this form of analysis, the disjoined ingredients can now be folded back into a boolean expansion or a disjunctive normal form (DNF) that is equivalent to the enlarged proposition \(\mathrm{E}f.\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{E}f & = & pq \cdot \mathrm{E}f_{pq} & + & p(q) \cdot \mathrm{E}f_{p(q)} & + & (p)q \cdot \mathrm{E}f_{(p)q} & + & (p)(q) \cdot \mathrm{E}f_{(p)(q)} \end{matrix}\!\)

Here is a summary of the result, illustrated by means of a digraph picture, where the “no change” element \((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)\!\) is drawn as a loop at the point \(p~q.\!\)

Directed Graph PQ Enlargement Conj.jpg

\(\begin{array}{rcccccc} f & = & p & \cdot & q \\[4pt] \mathrm{E}f & = & p & \cdot & q & \cdot & (\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] & + & p & \cdot & (q) & \cdot & (\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] & + & (p) & \cdot & q & \cdot & ~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] & + & (p) & \cdot & (q) & \cdot & ~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~\end{array}\!\)

We may understand the enlarged proposition \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) as telling us all the different ways to reach a model of the proposition \(f\!\) from each point of the universe \(X.\!\)

Propositional Forms on Two Variables

To broaden our experience with simple examples, let us examine the sixteen functions of concrete type \(P \times Q \to \mathbb{B}\!\) and abstract type \(\mathbb{B} \times \mathbb{B} \to \mathbb{B}.\!\) A few Tables are set here that detail the actions of \(\mathrm{E}\!\) and \(\mathrm{D}\!\) on each of these functions, allowing us to view the results in several different ways.

Tables A1 and A2 show two ways of arranging the 16 boolean functions on two variables, giving equivalent expressions for each function in several different systems of notation.


\(\text{Table A1.}~~\text{Propositional Forms on Two Variables}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_1\!\)

\(\text{Decimal}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_2\!\)

\(\text{Binary}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_3\!\)

\(\text{Vector}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_4\!\)

\(\text{Cactus}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_5\!\)

\(\text{English}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_6~\!\)

\(\text{Ordinary}\!\)

  \(p\colon\!\) \(1~1~0~0\!\)      
  \(q\colon\!\) \(1~0~1~0\!\)      

\(\begin{matrix} f_0 \\[4pt] f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_3 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_5 \\[4pt] f_6 \\[4pt] f_7 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0000} \\[4pt] f_{0001} \\[4pt] f_{0010} \\[4pt] f_{0011} \\[4pt] f_{0100} \\[4pt] f_{0101} \\[4pt] f_{0110} \\[4pt] f_{0111} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~0~0~0 \\[4pt] 0~0~0~1 \\[4pt] 0~0~1~0 \\[4pt] 0~0~1~1 \\[4pt] 0~1~0~0 \\[4pt] 0~1~0~1 \\[4pt] 0~1~1~0 \\[4pt] 0~1~1~1 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] (p)~ ~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~ ~(q) \\[4pt] (p,~q) \\[4pt] (p~~q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \text{false} \\[4pt] \text{neither}~ p ~\text{nor}~ q \\[4pt] q ~\text{without}~ p \\[4pt] \text{not}~ p \\[4pt] p ~\text{without}~ q \\[4pt] \text{not}~ q \\[4pt] p ~\text{not equal to}~ q \\[4pt] \text{not both}~ p ~\text{and}~ q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0 \\[4pt] \lnot p \land \lnot q \\[4pt] \lnot p \land q \\[4pt] \lnot p \\[4pt] p \land \lnot q \\[4pt] \lnot q \\[4pt] p \ne q \\[4pt] \lnot p \lor \lnot q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_8 \\[4pt] f_9 \\[4pt] f_{10} \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{12} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \\[4pt] f_{15} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{1000} \\[4pt] f_{1001} \\[4pt] f_{1010} \\[4pt] f_{1011} \\[4pt] f_{1100} \\[4pt] f_{1101} \\[4pt] f_{1110} \\[4pt] f_{1111} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 1~0~0~0 \\[4pt] 1~0~0~1 \\[4pt] 1~0~1~0 \\[4pt] 1~0~1~1 \\[4pt] 1~1~0~0 \\[4pt] 1~1~0~1 \\[4pt] 1~1~1~0 \\[4pt] 1~1~1~1 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~~p~~q~~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~ ~ ~q~~ \\[4pt] ~(p~(q)) \\[4pt] ~~p~ ~ ~ \\[4pt] ((p)~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} p ~\text{and}~ q \\[4pt] p ~\text{equal to}~ q \\[4pt] q \\[4pt] \text{not}~ p ~\text{without}~ q \\[4pt] p \\[4pt] \text{not}~ q ~\text{without}~ p \\[4pt] p ~\text{or}~ q \\[4pt] \text{true} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} p \land q \\[4pt] p = q \\[4pt] q \\[4pt] p \Rightarrow q \\[4pt] p \\[4pt] p \Leftarrow q \\[4pt] p \lor q \\[4pt] 1 \end{matrix}\!\)


\(\text{Table A2.}~~\text{Propositional Forms on Two Variables}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_1\!\)

\(\text{Decimal}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_2\!\)

\(\text{Binary}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_3\!\)

\(\text{Vector}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_4\!\)

\(\text{Cactus}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_5\!\)

\(\text{English}\!\)

\(\mathcal{L}_6~\!\)

\(\text{Ordinary}\!\)

  \(p\colon\!\) \(1~1~0~0\!\)      
  \(q\colon\!\) \(1~0~1~0\!\)      
\(f_0\!\) \(f_{0000}\!\) \(0~0~0~0\!\) \((~)\!\) \(\text{false}\!\) \(0\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0001} \\[4pt] f_{0010} \\[4pt] f_{0100} \\[4pt] f_{1000} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~0~0~1 \\[4pt] 0~0~1~0 \\[4pt] 0~1~0~0 \\[4pt] 1~0~0~0 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \text{neither}~ p ~\text{nor}~ q \\[4pt] q ~\text{without}~ p \\[4pt] p ~\text{without}~ q \\[4pt] p ~\text{and}~ q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \lnot p \land \lnot q \\[4pt] \lnot p \land q \\[4pt] p \land \lnot q \\[4pt] p \land q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0011} \\[4pt] f_{1100} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~0~1~1 \\[4pt] 1~1~0~0 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \text{not}~ p \\[4pt] p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \lnot p \\[4pt] p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0110} \\[4pt] f_{1001} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~1~1~0 \\[4pt] 1~0~0~1 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} p ~\text{not equal to}~ q \\[4pt] p ~\text{equal to}~ q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} p \ne q \\[4pt] p = q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0101} \\[4pt] f_{1010} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~1~0~1 \\[4pt] 1~0~1~0 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \text{not}~ q \\[4pt] q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \lnot q \\[4pt] q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{0111} \\[4pt] f_{1011} \\[4pt] f_{1101} \\[4pt] f_{1110} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} 0~1~1~1 \\[4pt] 1~0~1~1 \\[4pt] 1~1~0~1 \\[4pt] 1~1~1~0 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p~~q)~ \\[4pt] ~(p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \text{not both}~ p ~\text{and}~ q \\[4pt] \text{not}~ p ~\text{without}~ q \\[4pt] \text{not}~ q ~\text{without}~ p \\[4pt] p ~\text{or}~ q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \lnot p \lor \lnot q \\[4pt] p \Rightarrow q \\[4pt] p \Leftarrow q \\[4pt] p \lor q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(f_{1111}\!\) \(1~1~1~1\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(\text{true}\!\) \(1\!\)


Transforms Expanded over Differential Features

The next four Tables expand the expressions of \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) and \(\mathrm{D}f~\!\) in two different ways, for each of the sixteen functions. Notice that the functions are given in a different order, partitioned into seven natural classes by a group action.


\(\text{Table A3.}~~\mathrm{E}f ~\text{Expanded over Differential Features}~ \{ \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q \}\!\)
  \(f\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{11} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{\mathrm{d}p~\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{10} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{\mathrm{d}p(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{01} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{00} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(f_0\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~ \\[4pt] (p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~ \\[4pt] (p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\)
\(\text{Fixed Point Total}\!\) \(4\!\) \(4\!\) \(4\!\) \(16\!\)


\(\text{Table A4.}~~\mathrm{D}f ~\text{Expanded over Differential Features}~ \{ \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q \}\!\)
  \(f\!\)

\(\mathrm{D}f|_{\mathrm{d}p~\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{D}f|_{\mathrm{d}p(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(\mathrm{D}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{D}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(f_0\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \\[4pt] (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((~)) \\[4pt] ((~)) \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p~~q)~ \\[4pt] ~(p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~ \\[4pt] ~p~ \\[4pt] (p) \\[4pt] (p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~) \\[4pt] (~) \\[4pt] (~) \\[4pt] (~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(((~))\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)


Transforms Expanded over Ordinary Features


\(\text{Table A5.}~~\mathrm{E}f ~\text{Expanded over Ordinary Features}~ \{ p, q \}\!\)
  \(f\!\) \(\mathrm{E}f|_{pq}\!\) \(\mathrm{E}f|_{p(q)}\!\) \(\mathrm{E}f|_{(p)q}\!\) \(\mathrm{E}f|_{(p)(q)}\!\)
\(f_0\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}p~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}p~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~ \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}p~ \end{matrix}~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~\mathrm{d}q~ \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] ~\mathrm{d}q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] (~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~) \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\)


\(\text{Table A6.}~~\mathrm{D}f ~\text{Expanded over Ordinary Features}~ \{ p, q \}\!\)
  \(f\!\) \(\mathrm{D}f|_{pq}\!\) \(\mathrm{D}f|_{p(q)}\!\) \(\mathrm{D}f|_{(p)q}\!\) \(\mathrm{D}f|_{(p)(q)}\!\)
\(f_0\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_1 \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}p \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}p \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}p \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}p \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}p \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \\[4pt] (\mathrm{d}p,~\mathrm{d}q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{d}q \\[4pt] \mathrm{d}q \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~~\mathrm{d}p~~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ~~\mathrm{d}p~(\mathrm{d}q)~ \\[4pt] ~(\mathrm{d}p)~\mathrm{d}q~~ \\[4pt] ((\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\)


Operational Representation

If you think that I linger in the realm of logical difference calculus out of sheer vacillation about getting down to the differential proper, it is probably out of a prior expectation that you derive from the art or the long-engrained practice of real analysis. But the fact is that ordinary calculus only rushes on to the sundry orders of approximation because the strain of comprehending the full import of \(\mathrm{E}\!\) and \(\mathrm{D}\!\) at once overwhelms its discrete and finite powers to grasp them. But here, in the fully serene idylls of zeroth order logic, we find ourselves fit with the compass of a wit that is all we'd ever need to explore their effects with care.

So let us do just that.

I will first rationalize the novel grouping of propositional forms in the last set of Tables, as that will extend a gentle invitation to the mathematical subject of group theory, and demonstrate its relevance to differential logic in a strikingly apt and useful way. The data for that account is contained in Table A3.


\(\text{Table A3.}~~\mathrm{E}f ~\text{Expanded over Differential Features}~ \{ \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q \}\!\)
  \(f\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{11} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{\mathrm{d}p~\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{10} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{\mathrm{d}p(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{01} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)\mathrm{d}q}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{00} f\!\)

\(\mathrm{E}f|_{(\mathrm{d}p)(\mathrm{d}q)}\!\)

\(f_0\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\) \((~)\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_{1} \\[4pt] f_2 \\[4pt] f_4 \\[4pt] f_8 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)~q~ \\[4pt] (p)(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p)(q) \\[4pt] (p)~q~ \\[4pt] ~p~(q) \\[4pt] ~p~~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_3 \\[4pt] f_{12} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~ \\[4pt] (p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~p~ \\[4pt] (p) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (p) \\[4pt] ~p~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_6 \\[4pt] f_9 \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p,~q)) \\[4pt] ~(p,~q)~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~(p,~q)~ \\[4pt] ((p,~q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_5 \\[4pt] f_{10} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ~q~ \\[4pt] (q) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (q) \\[4pt] ~q~ \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} f_7 \\[4pt] f_{11} \\[4pt] f_{13} \\[4pt] f_{14} \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} (~p~~q~) \\[4pt] (~p~(q)) \\[4pt] ((p)~q~) \\[4pt] ((p)(q)) \end{matrix}\!\)

\(f_{15}\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\) \(((~))\!\)
\(\text{Fixed Point Total}\!\) \(4\!\) \(4\!\) \(4\!\) \(16\!\)


The shift operator \(\mathrm{E}\!\) can be understood as enacting a substitution operation on the propositional form \(f(p, q)\!\) that is given as its argument. In our present focus on propositional forms that involve two variables, we have the following type specifications and definitions:

\(\begin{array}{lcl} \mathrm{E} ~:~ (X \to \mathbb{B}) & \to & (\mathrm{E}X \to \mathbb{B}) \\[6pt] \mathrm{E} ~:~ f(p, q) & \mapsto & \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) \\[6pt] \mathrm{E}f(p, q, \mathrm{d}p, \mathrm{d}q) & = & f(p + \mathrm{d}p, q + \mathrm{d}q) \\[6pt] & = & f( \texttt{(} p, \mathrm{d}p \texttt{)}, \texttt{(} q, \mathrm{d}q \texttt{)} ) \end{array}\!\)

Evaluating \(\mathrm{E}f\!\) at particular values of \(\mathrm{d}p\!\) and \(\mathrm{d}q,\!\) for example, \(\mathrm{d}p = i\!\) and \(\mathrm{d}q = j,\!\) where \(i\!\) and \(j\!\) are values in \(\mathbb{B},\!\) produces the following result:

\(\begin{array}{lclcl} \mathrm{E}_{ij} & : & (X \to \mathbb{B}) & \to & (X \to \mathbb{B}) \\[6pt] \mathrm{E}_{ij} & : & f & \mapsto & \mathrm{E}_{ij}f \\[6pt] \mathrm{E}_{ij}f & = & \mathrm{E}f|_{\mathrm{d}p = i, \mathrm{d}q = j} & = & f(p + i, q + j) \\[6pt] & & & = & f( \texttt{(} p, i \texttt{)}, \texttt{(} q, j \texttt{)} ) \end{array}\!\)

The notation is a little awkward, but the data of Table A3 should make the sense clear. The important thing to observe is that \(\mathrm{E}_{ij}\!\) has the effect of transforming each proposition \(f : X \to \mathbb{B}\!\) into a proposition \(f^\prime : X \to \mathbb{B}.\!\) As it happens, the action of each \(\mathrm{E}_{ij}\!\) is one-to-one and onto, so the gang of four operators \(\{ \mathrm{E}_{ij} : i, j \in \mathbb{B} \}\!\) is an example of what is called a transformation group on the set of sixteen propositions. Bowing to a longstanding local and linear tradition, I will therefore redub the four elements of this group as \(\mathrm{T}_{00}, \mathrm{T}_{01}, \mathrm{T}_{10}, \mathrm{T}_{11},\!\) to bear in mind their transformative character, or nature, as the case may be. Abstractly viewed, this group of order four has the following operation table:


\(\cdot\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\)

\(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\)
\(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\)
\(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\)
\(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{11}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{10}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{01}\!\) \(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\)


It happens that there are just two possible groups of 4 elements. One is the cyclic group \(Z_4\!\) (from German Zyklus), which this is not. The other is the Klein four-group \(V_4\!\) (from German Vier), which this is.

More concretely viewed, the group as a whole pushes the set of sixteen propositions around in such a way that they fall into seven natural classes, called orbits. One says that the orbits are preserved by the action of the group. There is an Orbit Lemma of immense utility to “those who count” which, depending on your upbringing, you may associate with the names of Burnside, Cauchy, Frobenius, or some subset or superset of these three, vouching that the number of orbits is equal to the mean number of fixed points, in other words, the total number of points (in our case, propositions) that are left unmoved by the separate operations, divided by the order of the group. In this instance, \(\mathrm{T}_{00}\!\) operates as the group identity, fixing all 16 propositions, while the other three group elements fix 4 propositions each, and so we get:   Number of Orbits  =  (4 + 4 + 4 + 16) ÷ 4  =  7.   Amazing!

Consider what effects that might conceivably have practical bearings you conceive the objects of your conception to have. Then, your conception of those effects is the whole of your conception of the object.

— Charles Sanders Peirce, “Issues of Pragmaticism”, (CP 5.438)

One other subject that it would be opportune to mention at this point, while we have an object example of a mathematical group fresh in mind, is the relationship between the pragmatic maxim and what are commonly known in mathematics as representation principles. As it turns out, with regard to its formal characteristics, the pragmatic maxim unites the aspects of a representation principle with the attributes of what would ordinarily be known as a closure principle. We will consider the form of closure that is invoked by the pragmatic maxim on another occasion, focusing here and now on the topic of group representations.

Let us return to the example of the four-group \(V_4.\!\) We encountered this group in one of its concrete representations, namely, as a transformation group that acts on a set of objects, in this case a set of sixteen functions or propositions. Forgetting about the set of objects that the group transforms among themselves, we may take the abstract view of the group's operational structure, for example, in the form of the group operation table copied here:


\(\cdot\!\)

\(\mathrm{e}\!\)

\(\mathrm{f}\!\)

\(\mathrm{g}\!\)

\(\mathrm{h}\!\)

\(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\)
\(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\)
\(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\)
\(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\)


This table is abstractly the same as, or isomorphic to, the versions with the \(\mathrm{E}_{ij}\!\) operators and the \(\mathrm{T}_{ij}\!\) transformations that we took up earlier. That is to say, the story is the same, only the names have been changed. An abstract group can have a variety of significantly and superficially different representations. But even after we have long forgotten the details of any particular representation there is a type of concrete representations, called regular representations, that are always readily available, as they can be generated from the mere data of the abstract operation table itself.

To see how a regular representation is constructed from the abstract operation table, select a group element from the top margin of the Table, and “consider its effects” on each of the group elements as they are listed along the left margin. We may record these effects as Peirce usually did, as a logical aggregate of elementary dyadic relatives, that is, as a logical disjunction or boolean sum whose terms represent the ordered pairs of \(\mathrm{input} : \mathrm{output}\!\) transactions that are produced by each group element in turn. This forms one of the two possible regular representations of the group, in this case the one that is called the post-regular representation or the right regular representation. It has long been conventional to organize the terms of this logical aggregate in the form of a matrix:

Reading “\(+\!\)” as a logical disjunction:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{G} & = & \mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h} \end{matrix}\!\)

And so, by expanding effects, we get:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{G} & = & \mathrm{e}:\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}:\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}:\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}:\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] & + & \mathrm{e}:\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}:\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}:\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}:\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] & + & \mathrm{e}:\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}:\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}:\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}:\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] & + & \mathrm{e}:\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}:\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}:\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}:\mathrm{e} \end{matrix}\!\)

More on the pragmatic maxim as a representation principle later.

The above-mentioned fact about the regular representations of a group is universally known as Cayley's Theorem, typically stated in the following form:

Every group is isomorphic to a subgroup of \(\mathrm{Aut}(X),\!\) the group of automorphisms of a suitably chosen set \(X\!\).

There is a considerable generalization of these regular representations to a broad class of relational algebraic systems in Peirce's earliest papers. The crux of the whole idea is this:

Contemplate the effects of the symbol whose meaning you wish to investigate as they play out on all the stages of conduct where you can imagine that symbol playing a role.

This idea of contextual definition by way of conduct transforming operators is basically the same as Jeremy Bentham's notion of paraphrasis, a “method of accounting for fictions by explaining various purported terms away” (Quine, in Van Heijenoort, From Frege to Gödel, p. 216). Today we'd call these constructions term models. This, again, is the big idea behind Schönfinkel's combinators \(\mathrm{S}, \mathrm{K}, \mathrm{I},\!\) and hence of lambda calculus, and I reckon you know where that leads.

The next few excursions in this series will provide a scenic tour of various ideas in group theory that will turn out to be of constant guidance in several of the settings that are associated with our topic.

Let me return to Peirce's early papers on the algebra of relatives to pick up the conventions that he used there, and then rewrite my account of regular representations in a way that conforms to those.

Peirce describes the action of an “elementary dual relative” in this way:

Elementary simple relatives are connected together in systems of four. For if \(\mathrm{A}\!:\!\mathrm{B}\!\) be taken to denote the elementary relative which multiplied into \(\mathrm{B}\!\) gives \(\mathrm{A},\!\) then this relation existing as elementary, we have the four elementary relatives
\(\mathrm{A}\!:\!\mathrm{A} \qquad \mathrm{A}\!:\!\mathrm{B} \qquad \mathrm{B}\!:\!\mathrm{A} \qquad \mathrm{B}\!:\!\mathrm{B}.\!\)
C.S. Peirce, Collected Papers, CP 3.123.

Peirce is well aware that it is not at all necessary to arrange the elementary relatives of a relation into arrays, matrices, or tables, but when he does so he tends to prefer organizing 2-adic relations in the following manner:

\(\begin{bmatrix} a\!:\!a & a\!:\!b & a\!:\!c \\ b\!:\!a & b\!:\!b & b\!:\!c \\ c\!:\!a & c\!:\!b & c\!:\!c \end{bmatrix}\!\)

For example, given the set \(X = \{ a, b, c \},\!\) suppose that we have the 2-adic relative term \(\mathit{m} = {}^{\backprime\backprime}\, \text{marker for}\, \underline{~ ~ ~}\, {}^{\prime\prime}~\!\) and the associated 2-adic relation \(M \subseteq X \times X,\!\) the general pattern of whose common structure is represented by the following matrix:

\( M \quad = \quad \begin{bmatrix} M_{aa}(a\!:\!a) & M_{ab}(a\!:\!b) & M_{ac}(a\!:\!c) \\ M_{ba}(b\!:\!a) & M_{bb}(b\!:\!b) & M_{bc}(b\!:\!c) \\ M_{ca}(c\!:\!a) & M_{cb}(c\!:\!b) & M_{cc}(c\!:\!c) \end{bmatrix} \!\)

For at least a little while longer, I will keep explicit the distinction between a relative term like \(\mathit{m}\!\) and a relation like \(M \subseteq X \times X,\!\) but it is best to view both these entities as involving different applications of the same information, and so we could just as easily write the following form:

\( m \quad = \quad \begin{bmatrix} m_{aa}(a\!:\!a) & m_{ab}(a\!:\!b) & m_{ac}(a\!:\!c) \\ m_{ba}(b\!:\!a) & m_{bb}(b\!:\!b) & m_{bc}(b\!:\!c) \\ m_{ca}(c\!:\!a) & m_{cb}(c\!:\!b) & m_{cc}(c\!:\!c) \end{bmatrix} \!\)

By way of making up a concrete example, let us say that \(\mathit{m}\!\) or \(M\!\) is given as follows:

\(\begin{array}{l} a ~\text{is a marker for}~ a \\ a ~\text{is a marker for}~ b \\ b ~\text{is a marker for}~ b \\ b ~\text{is a marker for}~ c \\ c ~\text{is a marker for}~ c \\ c ~\text{is a marker for}~ a \end{array}\!\)

In sum, then, the relative term \(\mathit{m}\!\) and the relation \(M\!\) are both represented by the following matrix:

\(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \cdot (a\!:\!a) & 1 \cdot (a\!:\!b) & 0 \cdot (a\!:\!c) \\ 0 \cdot (b\!:\!a) & 1 \cdot (b\!:\!b) & 1 \cdot (b\!:\!c) \\ 1 \cdot (c\!:\!a) & 0 \cdot (c\!:\!b) & 1 \cdot (c\!:\!c) \end{bmatrix}\!\)

I think this much will serve to fix notation and set up the remainder of the discussion.

In Peirce's time, and even in some circles of mathematics today, the information indicated by the elementary relatives \((i\!:\!j),\!\) as the indices \(i, j\!\) range over the universe of discourse, would be referred to as the umbral elements of the algebraic operation represented by the matrix, though I seem to recall that Peirce preferred to call these terms the “ingredients”. When this ordered basis is understood well enough, one will tend to drop any mention of it from the matrix itself, leaving us nothing but these bare bones:

\( M \quad = \quad \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \!\)

The various representations of \(M\!\) are nothing more than alternative ways of specifying its basic ingredients, namely, the following aggregate of elementary relatives:

\(\begin{array}{*{13}{c}} M & = & a\!:\!a & + & b\!:\!b & + & c\!:\!c & + & a\!:\!b & + & b\!:\!c & + & c\!:\!a \end{array}\!\)

Recognizing that \(a\!:\!a + b\!:\!b + c\!:\!c\!\) is the identity transformation otherwise known as \(\mathit{1},\!\) the 2-adic relative term \(m = {}^{\backprime\backprime}\, \text{marker for}\, \underline{~ ~ ~}\, {}^{\prime\prime}~\!\) can be parsed as an element \(\mathit{1} + a\!:\!b + b\!:\!c + c\!:\!a\!\) of the so-called group ring, all of which makes this element just a special sort of linear transformation.

Up to this point, we are still reading the elementary relatives of the form \(i\!:\!j\!\) in the way that Peirce read them in logical contexts:  \(i\!\) is the relate, \(j\!\) is the correlate, and in our current example \(i\!:\!j,\!\) or more exactly, \(m_{ij} = 1,\!\) is taken to say that \(i\!\) is a marker for \(j.\!\)  This is the mode of reading that we call “multiplying on the left”.

In the algebraic, permutational, or transformational contexts of application, however, Peirce converts to the alternative mode of reading, although still calling \(i\!\) the relate and \(j\!\) the correlate, the elementary relative \(i\!:\!j\!\) now means that \(i\!\) gets changed into \(j.\!\) In this scheme of reading, the transformation \(a\!:\!b + b\!:\!c + c\!:\!a\!\) is a permutation of the aggregate \(\mathbf{1} = a + b + c,\!\) or what we would now call the set \(\{ a, b, c \},\!\) in particular, it is the permutation that is otherwise notated as follows:

\(\begin{Bmatrix} a & b & c \\ b & c & a \end{Bmatrix}\!\)

This is consistent with the convention that Peirce uses in the paper “On a Class of Multiple Algebras” (CP 3.324–327).

We've been exploring the applications of a certain technique for clarifying abstruse concepts, a rough-cut version of the pragmatic maxim that I've been accustomed to refer to as the operationalization of ideas. The basic idea is to replace the question of What it is, which modest people comprehend is far beyond their powers to answer definitively any time soon, with the question of What it does, which most people know at least a modicum about.

In the case of regular representations of groups we found a non-plussing surplus of answers to sort our way through. So let us track back one more time to see if we can learn any lessons that might carry over to more realistic cases.

Here is is the operation table of \(V_4\!\) once again:


\(\text{Klein Four-Group}~ V_4\!\)

\(\cdot\!\)

\(\mathrm{e}\!\)

\(\mathrm{f}\!\)

\(\mathrm{g}\!\)

\(\mathrm{h}\!\)

\(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\)
\(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\)
\(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\)
\(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{e}\!\)


A group operation table is really just a device for recording a certain 3-adic relation, to be specific, the set of triples of the form \((x, y, z)\!\) satisfying the equation \(x \cdot y = z.\!\)

In the case of \(V_4 = (G, \cdot),\!\) where \(G\!\) is the underlying set \(\{ \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h} \},\!\) we have the 3-adic relation \(L(V_4) \subseteq G \times G \times G\!\) whose triples are listed below:

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{h}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{g}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{f}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{e}) \end{matrix}\!\)

It is part of the definition of a group that the 3-adic relation \(L \subseteq G^3\!\) is actually a function \(L : G \times G \to G.\!\) It is from this functional perspective that we can see an easy way to derive the two regular representations. Since we have a function of the type \(L : G \times G \to G,\!\) we can define a couple of substitution operators:

1. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (\underline{~~}, y))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((x, y)\!\) that evaluates to \(xy.~\!\)
2. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (y, \underline{~~}))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((y, x)\!\) that evaluates to \(yx.~\!\)

In (1) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((\underline{~~}, y)\!\) into \(xy,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : xy) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : xy)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) from the left margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run across the top margin. This aspect of pragmatic definition we recognize as the regular ante-representation:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{matrix}\!\)

In (2) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((y, \underline{~~})\!\) into \(yx,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : yx) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : yx)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) from the top margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run down the left margin. This aspect of pragmatic definition we recognize as the regular post-representation:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{matrix}\!\)

If the ante-rep looks the same as the post-rep, now that I'm writing them in the same dialect, that is because \(V_4\!\) is abelian (commutative), and so the two representations have the very same effects on each point of their bearing.

A group operation table is really just a device for recording a certain 3-adic relation, to be specific, the set of triples of the form \((x, y, z)\!\) satisfying the equation \(x \cdot y = z.\!\)

In the case of \(V_4 = (G, \cdot),\!\) where \(G\!\) is the underlying set \(\{ \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h} \},\!\) we have the 3-adic relation \(L(V_4) \subseteq G \times G \times G\!\) whose triples are listed below:

\(\begin{matrix} (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{e}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{h}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{f}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{g}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{e}) & (\mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{f}) \\[6pt] (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{h}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{f}) & (\mathrm{h}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{e}) \end{matrix}\!\)

It is part of the definition of a group that the 3-adic relation \(L \subseteq G^3\!\) is actually a function \(L : G \times G \to G.\!\) It is from this functional perspective that we can see an easy way to derive the two regular representations. Since we have a function of the type \(L : G \times G \to G,\!\) we can define a couple of substitution operators:

1. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (\underline{~~}, y))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((x, y)\!\) that evaluates to \(xy.~\!\)
2. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (y, \underline{~~}))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((y, x)\!\) that evaluates to \(yx.~\!\)

In (1) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((\underline{~~}, y)\!\) into \(xy,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : xy) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : xy)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) from the left margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run across the top margin. This aspect of pragmatic definition we recognize as the regular ante-representation:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{matrix}\!\)

In (2) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((y, \underline{~~})\!\) into \(yx,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : yx) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : yx)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) from the top margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run down the left margin. This aspect of pragmatic definition we recognize as the regular post-representation:

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{matrix}\!\)

If the ante-rep looks the same as the post-rep, now that I'm writing them in the same dialect, that is because \(V_4\!\) is abelian (commutative), and so the two representations have the very same effects on each point of their bearing.

So long as we're in the neighborhood, we might as well take in some more of the sights, for instance, the smallest example of a non-abelian (non-commutative) group. This is a group of six elements, say, \(G = \{ \mathrm{e}, \mathrm{f}, \mathrm{g}, \mathrm{h}, \mathrm{i}, \mathrm{j} \},\!\) with no relation to any other employment of these six symbols being implied, of course, and it can be most easily represented as the permutation group on a set of three letters, say, \(X = \{ a, b, c \},\!\) usually notated as \(G = \mathrm{Sym}(X)\!\) or more abstractly and briefly, as \(\mathrm{Sym}(3)\!\) or \(S_3.\!\) The next Table shows the intended correspondence between abstract group elements and the permutation or substitution operations in \(\mathrm{Sym}(X).\!\)


\(\text{Permutation Substitutions in}~ \mathrm{Sym} \{ a, b, c \}\!\)
\(\mathrm{e}\!\) \(\mathrm{f}\!\) \(\mathrm{g}\!\) \(\mathrm{h}\!\) \(\mathrm{i}~\!\) \(\mathrm{j}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] a & b & c \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] c & a & b \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] b & c & a \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] a & c & b \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] c & b & a \end{matrix}\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} a & b & c \\[3pt] \downarrow & \downarrow & \downarrow \\[6pt] b & a & c \end{matrix}\!\)


Here is the operation table for \(S_3,\!\) given in abstract fashion:

\(\text{Symmetric Group}~ S_3\!\)
Symmetric Group S(3).jpg

By the way, we will meet with the symmetric group \(S_3~\!\) again when we return to take up the study of Peirce's early paper “On a Class of Multiple Algebras” (CP 3.324–327), and also his late unpublished work “The Simplest Mathematics” (1902) (CP 4.227–323), with particular reference to the section that treats of “Trichotomic Mathematics” (CP 4.307–323).

By way of collecting a short-term pay-off for all the work that we did on the regular representations of the Klein 4-group \(V_4,\!\) let us write out as quickly as possible in relative form a minimal budget of representations for the symmetric group on three letters, \(\mathrm{Sym}(3).\!\) After doing the usual bit of compare and contrast among the various representations, we will have enough concrete material beneath our abstract belts to tackle a few of the presently obscured details of Peirce's early “Algebra + Logic” papers.

Writing the permutations or substitutions of \(\mathrm{Sym} \{ a, b, c \}\!\) in relative form generates what is generally thought of as a natural representation of \(S_3.~\!\)

\(\begin{matrix} \mathrm{e} & = & a\!:\!a & + & b\!:\!b & + & c\!:\!c \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & a\!:\!c & + & b\!:\!a & + & c\!:\!b \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & a\!:\!b & + & b\!:\!c & + & c\!:\!a \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & a\!:\!a & + & b\!:\!c & + & c\!:\!b \\[4pt] \mathrm{i} & = & a\!:\!c & + & b\!:\!b & + & c\!:\!a \\[4pt] \mathrm{j} & = & a\!:\!b & + & b\!:\!a & + & c\!:\!c \end{matrix}\!\)

I have without stopping to think about it written out this natural representation of \(S_3~\!\) in the style that comes most naturally to me, to wit, the “right” way, whereby an ordered pair configured as \(x\!:\!y\!\) constitutes the turning of \(x\!\) into \(y.\!\) It is possible that the next time we check in with CSP we will have to adjust our sense of direction, but that will be an easy enough bridge to cross when we come to it.

To construct the regular representations of \(S_3,~\!\) we begin with the data of its operation table:

\(\text{Symmetric Group}~ S_3\!\)
Symmetric Group S(3).jpg

Just by way of staying clear about what we are doing, let's return to the recipe that we worked out before:

It is part of the definition of a group that the 3-adic relation \(L \subseteq G^3\!\) is actually a function \(L : G \times G \to G.\!\) It is from this functional perspective that we can see an easy way to derive the two regular representations.

Since we have a function of the type \(L : G \times G \to G,\!\) we can define a couple of substitution operators:

1. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (\underline{~~}, y))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((x, y)\!\) that evaluates to \(xy.~\!\)
2. \(\mathrm{Sub}(x, (y, \underline{~~}))\!\) puts any specified \(x\!\) into the empty slot of the rheme \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) with the effect of producing the saturated rheme \((y, x)\!\) that evaluates to \(yx.~\!\)

In (1) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((\underline{~~}, y),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((\underline{~~}, y)\!\) into \(xy,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : xy) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : xy)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) from the left margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run along the right margin. This produces the regular ante-representation of \(S_3,\!\) like so:

\(\begin{array}{*{13}{c}} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{j} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{i} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{i} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{j} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{array}\!\)

In (2) we consider the effects of each \(x\!\) in its practical bearing on contexts of the form \((y, \underline{~~}),\!\) as \(y\!\) ranges over \(G,\!\) and the effects are such that \(x\!\) takes \((y, \underline{~~})\!\) into \(yx,\!\) for \(y\!\) in \(G,\!\) all of which is notated as \(x = \{ (y : yx) ~|~ y \in G \}.\!\) The pairs \((y : yx)\!\) can be found by picking an \(x\!\) on the right margin of the group operation table and considering its effects on each \(y\!\) in turn as these run along the left margin. This produces the regular post-representation of \(S_3,\!\) like so:

\(\begin{array}{*{13}{c}} \mathrm{e} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{j} \\[4pt] \mathrm{f} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{h} \\[4pt] \mathrm{g} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{i} \\[4pt] \mathrm{h} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{f} \\[4pt] \mathrm{i} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{e} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{g} \\[4pt] \mathrm{j} & = & \mathrm{e}\!:\!\mathrm{j} & + & \mathrm{f}\!:\!\mathrm{i} & + & \mathrm{g}\!:\!\mathrm{h} & + & \mathrm{h}\!:\!\mathrm{g} & + & \mathrm{i}\!:\!\mathrm{f} & + & \mathrm{j}\!:\!\mathrm{e} \end{array}\!\)

If the ante-rep looks different from the post-rep, it is just as it should be, as \(S_3~\!\) is non-abelian (non-commutative), and so the two representations differ in the details of their practical effects, though, of course, being representations of the same abstract group, they must be isomorphic.

 

the way of heaven and earth
is to be long continued
in their operation
without stopping

  — i ching, hexagram 32

Logical Cacti

Theme One Program — Logical Cacti
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/thread.html#2348
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/002360.html
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/002361.html

Original Version

Up till now we've been working to hammer out a two-edged sword of syntax, honing the syntax of painted and rooted cacti and expressions (PARCAE), and turning it to use in taming the syntax of two-level formal languages.

But the purpose of a logical syntax is to support a logical semantics, which means, for starters, to bear interpretation as sentential signs that can denote objective propositions about some universe of objects.

One of the difficulties that we face in this discussion is that the words interpretation, meaning, semantics, and so on will have so many different meanings from one moment to the next of their use. A dedicated neologician might be able to think up distinctive names for all of the aspects of meaning and all of the approaches to them that will concern us here, but I will just have to do the best that I can with the common lot of ambiguous terms, leaving it to context and the intelligent interpreter to sort it out as much as possible.

As it happens, the language of cacti is so abstract that it can bear at least two different interpretations as logical sentences denoting logical propositions. The two interpretations that I know about are descended from the ones that Charles Sanders Peirce called the entitative and the existential interpretations of his systems of graphical logics. For our present aims, I shall briefly introduce the alternatives and then quickly move to the existential interpretation of logical cacti.

Table A illustrates the existential interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.


\(\text{Table A.}~~\text{Existential Interpretation}\)
\(\text{Cactus Graph}\!\) \(\text{Cactus Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \tilde{a} \\[2pt] a^\prime \\[2pt] \lnot a \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \land b \land c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \lor b \lor c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \Rightarrow b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a ~\operatorname{without}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a + b \\[2pt] a \neq b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive-or}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[2pt] a \iff b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{equals}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{genus}~ a ~\operatorname{of~species}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition}~ a ~\operatorname{into}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{pie}~ a ~\operatorname{of~slices}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)


Table B illustrates the entitative interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.


\(\text{Table B.}~~\text{Entitative Interpretation}\)
\(\text{Cactus Graph}\!\) \(\text{Cactus Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \tilde{a} \\[2pt] a^\prime \\[2pt] \lnot a \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \lor b \lor c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \land b \land c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A)B Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)} b\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \Rightarrow b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a, ~\operatorname{or}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[2pt] a \iff b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{equals}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a + b \\[2pt] a \neq b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive-or}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (((A),B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{genus}~ a ~\operatorname{of~species}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition}~ a ~\operatorname{into}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{pie}~ a ~\operatorname{of~slices}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)


For the time being, the main things to take away from Tables A and B are the ideas that the compositional structure of cactus graphs and expressions can be articulated in terms of two different kinds of connective operations, and that there are two distinct ways of mapping this compositional structure into the compositional structure of propositional sentences, say, in English:

1. The node connective joins a number of component cacti \(C_1, \ldots, C_k\) at a node:
 
    C_1 ... C_k
         @
2. The lobe connective joins a number of component cacti \(C_1, \ldots, C_k\) to a lobe:
 
    C_1 C_2   C_k
     o---o-...-o
      \       /
       \     /
        \   /
         \ /
          @

Table 15 summarizes the existential and entitative interpretations of the primitive cactus structures, in effect, the graphical constants and connectives.

Table 15.  Existential & Entitative Interpretations of Cactus Structures
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|  Cactus Graph   |  Cactus String  |  Existential    |   Entitative    |
|                 |                 | Interpretation  | Interpretation  |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |       " "       |      true       |      false      |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|        o        |                 |                 |                 |
|        |        |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |       ( )       |      false      |      true       |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|   C_1 ... C_k   |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |   C_1 ... C_k   | C_1 & ... & C_k | C_1 v ... v C_k |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|  C_1 C_2   C_k  |                 |  Just one       |  Not just one   |
|   o---o-...-o   |                 |                 |                 |
|    \       /    |                 |  of the C_j,    |  of the C_j,    |
|     \     /     |                 |                 |                 |
|      \   /      |                 |  j = 1 to k,    |  j = 1 to k,    |
|       \ /       |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        | (C_1, ..., C_k) |  is not true.   |  is true.       |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o

It is possible to specify abstract rules of equivalence (AROEs) between cacti, rules for transforming one cactus into another that are formal in the sense of being indifferent to the above choices for logical or semantic interpretations, and that partition the set of cacti into formal equivalence classes.

A reduction is an equivalence transformation that is applied in the direction of decreasing graphical complexity.

A basic reduction is a reduction that applies to one of the two families of basic connectives.

Table 16 schematizes the two types of basic reductions in a purely formal, interpretation-independent fashion.

Table 16.  Basic Reductions
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|    C_1 ... C_k                        |
|         @         =         @         |
|                                       |
|    if and only if                     |
|                                       |
|    C_j = @ for all j = 1 to k         |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|   C_1 C_2   C_k                       |
|    o---o-...-o                        |
|     \       /                         |
|      \     /                          |
|       \   /                           |
|        \ /                            |
|         @         =         @         |
|                                       |
|   if and only if                      |
|                                       |
|         o                             |
|         |                             |
|   C_j = @ for exactly one j in [1, k] |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

The careful reader will have noticed that we have begun to use graphical paints like "a", "b", "c" and schematic proxies like "C_1", "C_j", "C_k" in a variety of novel and unjustified ways.

The careful writer would have already introduced a whole bevy of technical concepts and proved a whole crew of formal theorems to justify their use before contemplating this stage of development, but I have been hurrying to proceed with the informal exposition, and this expedition must leave steps to the reader's imagination.

Of course I mean the active imagination. So let me assist the prospective exercise with a few hints of what it would take to guarantee that these practices make sense.

Partial Rewrites

Table 13 illustrates the existential interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.

Even though I do most of my thinking in the existential interpretation, I will continue to speak of these forms as logical graphs, because I think it is an important fact about them that the formal validity of the axioms and theorems is not dependent on the choice between the entitative and the existential interpretations.

The first extension is the reflective extension of logical graphs (RefLog). It is obtained by generalizing the negation operator "\(\texttt{(~)}\)" in a certain way, calling "\(\texttt{(~)}\)" the controlled, moderated, or reflective negation operator of order 1, then adding another such operator for each finite \(k = 2, 3, \ldots .\)

In sum, these operators are symbolized by bracketed argument lists as follows: "\(\texttt{(~)}\)", "\(\texttt{(~,~)}\)", "\(\texttt{(~,~,~)}\)", …, where the number of slots is the order of the reflective negation operator in question.

The cactus graph and the cactus expression shown here are both described as a spike.

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|                   o                   |
|                   |                   |
|                   @                   |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
|                  ( )                  |
o---------------------------------------o

The rule of reduction for a lobe is:

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|  x_1   x_2   ...   x_k                |
|   o-----o--- ... ---o                 |
|    \               /                  |
|     \             /                   |
|      \           /                    |
|       \         /                     |
|        \       /                      |
|         \     /                       |
|          \   /                        |
|           \ /                         |
|            @      =      @            |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

if and only if exactly one of the \(x_j\!\) is a spike.

In Ref Log, an expression of the form \(\texttt{((}~ e_1 ~\texttt{),(}~ e_2 ~\texttt{),(}~ \ldots ~\texttt{),(}~ e_k ~\texttt{))}\) expresses the fact that exactly one of the \(e_j\!\) is true. Expressions of this form are called universal partition expressions, and they parse into a type of graph called a painted and rooted cactus (PARC):

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|  e_1   e_2   ...   e_k                |
|   o     o           o                 |
|   |     |           |                 |
|   o-----o--- ... ---o                 |
|    \               /                  |
|     \             /                   |
|      \           /                    |
|       \         /                     |
|        \       /                      |
|         \     /                       |
|          \   /                        |
|           \ /                         |
|            @                          |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
| ( x1, x2, ..., xk )  =  [blank]       |
|                                       |
| iff                                   |
|                                       |
| Just one of the arguments             |
| x1, x2, ..., xk  =  ()                |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

The interpretation of these operators, read as assertions about the values of their listed arguments, is as follows:

Existential Interpretation: Just one of the k argument is false.
Entitative Interpretation: Not just one of the k arguments is true.

Tables

\(\text{Table 1.}~~\text{Syntax and Semantics of a Calculus for Propositional Logic}\)
\(\text{Graph}\!\) \(\text{Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\) \(\text{Other Notations}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \(~\) \(\operatorname{true}\) \(1\!\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}\) \(0\!\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a\!\) \(a\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\) \(\operatorname{not}~ a\) \(\lnot a \quad \bar{a} \quad \tilde{a} \quad a^\prime\)
Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a ~ b ~ c\) \(a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c\) \(a \land b \land c\)
Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\) \(a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c\) \(a \lor b \lor c\)
Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b \\[6pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(a \Rightarrow b\)
Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive~or}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \neq b \\[6pt] a + b \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{is~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[6pt] a \Leftrightarrow b \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{a} ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ b ~ \bar{c} \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition~all} \\ \operatorname{into}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{oddly~many~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{are~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(a + b + c\!\)


\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (X,(A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} x \texttt{,(} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ x \\ \operatorname{into}~ a, b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{genus}~ x ~\operatorname{comprises} \\ \operatorname{species}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{x} ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)


\(\text{Table C.}~~\text{Dualing Interpretations}\)
\(\text{Graph}\!\) \(\text{String}\!\) \(\text{Existential}\!\) \(\text{Entitative}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\) \(\lnot a\) \(\lnot a\)
Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\) \(a \land b \land c\) \(a \lor b \lor c\)
Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\) \(a \lor b \lor c\) \(a \land b \land c\)
Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\) \(a \Rightarrow b\)  
Cactus (A)B Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)} b\)   \(a \Rightarrow b\)
Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\) \(a \neq b\) \(a = b\!\)
Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\) \(a = b\!\) \(a \neq b\!\)
Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (((A),(B),(C))) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{)))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ a \\ \operatorname{into}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)

 
Cactus (((A),B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)  

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ a \\ \operatorname{into}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)