Algebraic Structure of Ancient Mesopotamian Omens
Algebraic Structure of Ancient Mesopotamian Omens
Author(s): Andrew Schumann, Vladimir Sazonov, Joanna TöyräänvuoriSubject(s): Customs / Folklore, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Culture and social structure
Published by: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum
Keywords: omen; divination; Boolean algebra; Mesopotamia; logic; divination;
Summary/Abstract: In this paper, it is shown that we can reconstruct an intuition of Boolean algebra in Mesopotamian divination with different omen series organized as catalogues. Each separate omen was formulated as a conditional statement “if a sign p, then an event q” so that it has only the positive truth value in the Boolean algebra. This means that omen catalogues can be considered as a dataset containing some logical axioms (only true propositions). It is the earliest form of binary thinking which was logically correct.
Journal: Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore
- Issue Year: 2024
- Issue No: 93
- Page Range: 63-78
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English
