The author reflects on the legacy of philosopher Hugh Mellor, particularly in light of Tim Crane's biographical memoir. They discuss Mellor's contributions to metaphysics, especially his book 'The Facts of Causation,' which has no...
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Peter Smith is a retired Cambridge logic teacher with interests in philosophy and math, authoring several books and maintaining a blog.
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The author reflects on recent home renovations, particularly the meticulous exterior painting that has inspired a series of interior redecorating tasks. This process, while enjoyable, has limited the author's reading and writing t...
The author reflects on their recent readings, focusing on Pat Barker's 'The Voyage Home,' which reimagines Agamemnon's return from the Trojan War, and A.E. Stallings' poetry, particularly her new book 'Frieze Frame' about the Part...
The author revisits their work on Gödel's Theorems, contemplating updates and a follow-up project while discussing related philosophical topics and a recent music festival performance.
The post critiques the philosophical works of Robert Brandom and Jason Socrates Bardi, deeming them unworthy of attention while recommending a musical performance by Alina Ibragimova.
The author discusses plans for a new version of 'Introducing Category Theory,' focusing on revisions to the chapter on power objects and the Elementary Theory of the Category of Sets. They reflect on the decline of elementary logi...
The author reflects on a remarkable concert experience at Wigmore Hall featuring Lea Desandre, Thomas Dunford, and the Jupiter ensemble, performing works by Dowland and Purcell. The performance was highlighted by Desandre's emotio...
The post explores revisions to Gödel’s Theorems, the rise of formal proof assistants, and the contemplative nature of art and music experiences.
The author shares insights on the improved performance of AI proofreading tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini while working on a mathematics book, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
The third edition of 'Introducing Category Theory' has been released, correcting previous errors and reflecting on the author's personal challenges during the revision process.
Self-publishing the Big Red Logic Books has led to increased PDF downloads, while paperback sales decline, prompting plans for revisions and new editions in 2026.
The author reflects on a missed trip to Bergamo due to health issues, which led to a hospitalization for their partner. Despite feeling unwell and experiencing brain fog, the author shares insights on Alan Turing's 1936 paper and ...
The author reflects on the process of revising the third edition of 'Introducing Formal Logic' (IFL), discussing the changes made from previous editions, including the incorporation of both tree and natural deduction proof systems...
The Pavel Haas Quartet's recent performance of Dvořák’s String Quintet Op. 97 at Wigmore Hall exemplifies the piece's beauty and was complemented by a BBC Radio 3 discussion on its recordings.
The latest issue of the Journal for the Philosophy of Mathematics showcases intriguing papers on set theory, alongside personal reflections on music performances.
The author discusses recent work on category theory notes, addressing a significant error in Definition 95 regarding the monic characteristic arrow in cartesian closed categories. They express gratitude to a colleague for identify...
The review critiques Arai’s 'Ordinal Analysis with an Introduction to Proof Theory' for its poor writing quality, filled with confusing sentences that hinder understanding. The author expresses disappointment in the book's accessi...
The blog post reviews the new edition of 'Introducing Category Theory' and notes a typo in it. The author expresses a desire to write a concise book on significant ideas in the history of logic, highlighting the overwhelming amoun...
The author navigates the emotional complexities of downsizing their book collection, particularly works by Wittgenstein, while reflecting on the philosophical significance of their library.
The author reflects on recent personal challenges, particularly health issues among older family members, which have distracted from planned activities, such as visiting an art exhibition in Italy. Instead, the author has focused ...
The author revises their book on Gödel’s Theorems for a new edition while sharing music recommendations from notable pianists and performances.
The author reflects on the process of decluttering bookshelves to accommodate plumbing work, leading to a selective reshelving of books. Influenced by James Marriott's Substack, the author decides to keep Orlando Figes's 'A People...
The author shares a personal account of spending five days in Zürich with their daughter, focusing on quality time rather than typical tourist activities. They reflect on the contrast between Zürich's charm and the perceived decli...
Hoffmann's 'Limits of Mathematics' attempts to introduce mathematical logic but is criticized for its lack of depth and clarity in key areas.