The Formalization of Scientific Languages—Part I: The Work of Woodger and Hull

The extent to which scientific languages can be formalized is an important problem, especially if it is assumed that a theorem-proving machine will deal most effectively with formal systems. In Part I, the axiomatic attempts of Woodger in genetics and of Hull in the theory of rote learning are examined. In Parts II and III, to be published later, the more prominent efforts to formalize physical theory will be considered and a general study will be made of related questions.