A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume I

"A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume I" by Augustus De Morgan is a collection of discursive writings that explores various scientific and philosophical paradoxes, likely written in the late 19th century. The text appears to engage with the inconsistencies and contradictions found within established scientific doctrines while also providing a critique of unsubstantiated claims made by self-proclaimed discoverers. This approach reflects De Morgan's intent to illuminate the nature of knowledge and the pitfalls of ignorance within the sphere of scientific inquiry. The opening of the work sets a thoughtful tone, as De Morgan introduces the concept of paradox by using a hypothetical scenario involving a fly and an elephant to illustrate how conflicting claims can arise in intellectual discourse. He emphasizes the contrast between isolated thinkers and organized movements in science, suggesting that dissenting ideas become more credible when they enjoy collective support rather than being the whim of a single individual. De Morgan proposes to examine claims made by various "paradoxers," drawing on his extensive personal experience with individuals who have confidently asserted their discoveries, despite a lack of formal knowledge or understanding. The beginning invites readers into a deeper examination of the relationship between established scientific knowledge and the often contradictory voices that challenge it. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Augustus De Morgan was a British mathematician and logician. He is best known for De Morgan's laws, relating logical conjunction, disjunction, and negation, and for coining the term "mathematical induction", the underlying principles of which he formalized. De Morgan's contributions to logic are heavily used in many branches of mathematics, including set theory and probability theory, as well as other related fields such as computer science.