This paper studies the logical context-sensitivity of Aristotelian diagrams. I propose a new account of measuring this type of context-sensitivity, and illustrate it by means of a small-scale example. Next, I turn toward a more large-scale case study, based on Aristotelian diagrams for the categorical statements with subject negation. On the practical side, I describe an interactive application that can help to explain and illustrate the phenomenon of context-sensitivity in this particular case study. On the theoretical side, I show that applying the proposed measure of context-sensitivity leads to a number of precise yet highly intuitive results.
Aristotelian diagrams are used extensively in contemporary research in artificial intelligence. The present paper investigates the geometric and cognitive differences between two types of Aristotelian diagrams for the Boolean algebra B4 $\mathbb {B}_{4}$. Within the class of 3D visualizations, the main geometric distinction is that between the cube-based diagrams (such as the rhombic dodecahedron) and the tetrahedron-based diagrams. Geometric properties such as collinearity, central symmetry and distance are examined from a cognitive perspective, focusing on diagram design principles such as congruence/isomorphism and apprehension. The cognitive effectiveness of the different visualizations is compared for the representation of implication versus opposition relations, and for subdiagram embeddings.
Berzelius failed to make use of Faraday's electrochemical laws in his laborious determination of equivalent weights.