The (almost really) Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

The Game of Logic

Source: The Game of Logic (edition from 1886 with minor differences as noted)

Nota Bene

With each copy of this Book is given an Envelope, containing a diagram (similar to the frontispiece) on card, and nine Counters, four red and five grey.

The Envelope, &c. can be had separately, at 3d. each.


The Author will be very grateful for suggestions, especially from beginners in Logic, of any alterations, or further explanations, that may seem desirable. Letters should be addressed to him at “29, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London.”

Preface

“There foam’d rebellious Logic, gagg’d and bound.”

This Game requires nine Counters—four of one colour and five of another: say four red and five grey.

Besides the nine Counters, it also requires one Player, at least. I am not aware of any Game that can be played with less than this number: while there are several that require more: take Cricket, for instance, which requires twenty-two. How much easier it is, when you want to play a Game, to find one Player than twenty-two! At the same time, though one Player is enough, a good deal more amusement may be got by two working at it together, and correcting each other’s mistakes.

A second advantage, possessed by this Game, is that, besides being an endless source of amusement (the number of arguments, that may be worked by it, being infinite), it will give the Players a little instruction as well. But is there any great harm in that, so long as you get plenty of amusement?