This book begins with a short presentation of the concepts underlying the development of logic, focusing mainly on classical logic. Aristotelian or classical logic, though surpassed today by modern logic, exerted a great influence for over twenty centuries in many parts of the world. It thus affected the philosophical conceptions of humans for many years. The next essay is about my speculative belief concerning the genetic roots of logic, and the historical connection between philosophy and logic. Historically, logical reasoning appeared at some point in human evolution, but when this happened is not known. Its source, however, is human reason, and it has strong links to the advent and evolution of language. In addition, the categorical logic that began with Aristotle played a fundamental role in the old conceptions of people about being, existence, space and time. The essay on Analytic Philosophy deals with the role played by language and logic in the formation of metaphysical concepts and in the rejection by some analytical philosophers of the thesis that philosophy provides real knowledge about the world. The rest of the essays are my personal reflections on some philosophical issues that philosophers and other thinkers have debated for many centuries. It is a historical truth that human civilization has been the arena where the struggle between different belief systems has been fought. Among all religious, political, economic and scientific doctrines, to name a few, intellectual conflicts have always shown their presence. Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Democracy, Communism, Relativity, Newtonian Mechanics are all belief systems of humankind. As such, they always needed metaphysical justification. My own position is that radical skepticism in philosophy is on the rise, but dogmatic views still are the rule for the uncritical person.
About the Author: In this book, the first I write, I venture into the world of philosophical ideas and logic. Though I am neither a professional philosopher nor a logician, my previous studies as a student of philosophy and my experience as a former math/philosophy tutor gave me some understanding and insights into the nature of these subjects. I studied philosophy in the early eighties at City College in NY. From the middle of the nineties to 2008 I worked as a tutor at John Jay college, also in NY.