The Adventures of Logic in Communist Russia

Abstract

The author presents an overview of the very turbulent course of development to which logic was subjected in Communist Russia. During the first three decades of Communist rule logic was eliminated from the educational system, and the official attitude towards it was overtly hostile. In 1946, following Stalin’s personal intervention, logic was reintroduced into the educational system. Almost the entire two decades which ensued denote a period in which Russian logicians fought for the rebirth, development and affirmation of logic in their country. In the course of this struggle they were faced with many and varied obstacles and difficulties. In the final stage of the battle logic was eventually acknowledged in Russia as a respectable discipline and would thereafter achieve its development peacefully. The author presents data to support the above and describes both tragic and tragicomical events illustrating the aforesaid as well as upheavals which occurred. Much of the data became known only after the recollections of some Russian philosophers were published in the wake of the collapse of Communism.