The Search for Truth

The book The Search for Truth by Eric Temple Bell (1883–1960) is a history of deductive reasoning and rational thinking from ancient Egypt to the author's time, culminating with Heyting's discovery of alternate logics in 1930. It is written in a style that is somewhat irreverent and glib and so can be fun to read. The book was first published in 1934.

Note that, as the book was written over 80 years ago, it contains some material that would be considered politically incorrect nowadays; as well, the scientific concepts discussed in the book are in some cases no longer current.

This book is in the public domain in Canada and I am currently (November 2014) in the process of adding several chapters from the book to the site, albeit slowly. The following chapters are currently available:

• Chapter 1: Looking Forward
• Chapter 2: Case Histories
• Chapter 3: The Great Pyramid
• Chapter 4: The Ancient Cambodians
• Chapter 6: The Treaty of Croton
• Chapter 7: Paralyzed and Petrified
• Chapter 8: Through the Tunnel