The origin of relation algebras in the development and axiomatization of the calculus of relations (Q1189893): Difference between revisions

As the title indicates, this paper is a historical account of the theory of relation algebras, starting with De Morgan and Peirce and ending with Tarski's axiomatization of relation algebras, his solution of most of the natural problems about them, and Lyndon's important contributions. This material is treated in detail, but using the modern notation. The history ends with the 1964 theorem of the reviewer about the non-finite axiomatizability of the class of representable relation algebras. It should be noted that the field is still quite active, with important recent contributions by Maddux, Jónsson, and many others.