Why TERNARY LOGIC Makes More Sense Than Boolean Logic

Codeolences October 15, 2025
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Codeolences

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Hi, I'm Jakub, and I really like computers 👾 Codeolences is a channel for anyone fascinated by computer science, alternative technologies, and stories behind influential programmers and computing ideas. On this channel you’ll find deep‑dives into lesser-known computing topics like ternary computers, obscure architectures, history of programming languages, unusual tech inventions, and the people who shaped them - all explained in a way that is accessible to both newcomers and true nerds. [*] Business and sponsorship inquiries: [email protected] [*] Are you a researcher/entrepreneur/sentient AI model? Reach out, let's talk and turn it into a podcast! Or if you just want to connect, send me an email at: [email protected]

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To learn for free on Brilliant, go to https://brilliant.org/Codeolences/ . You’ll also get 20% off an annual premium subscription. Computers think in zeros and ones. But what if that’s not enough to describe reality? In this video, we take a look at three-valued logic - a system that introduces a third truth value: unknown. It’s a concept that challenges centuries of binary thinking, from Aristotle’s Law of the Excluded Middle to George Boole’s algebra that became the foundation of every modern CPU. Polish mathematician Jan Łukasiewicz was among the first to formalize this idea, introducing a logic that could handle uncertainty - statements that are not yet true, nor false. Decades later, his ideas were used by Soviet engineers to build Setun, the world’s first ternary computer. This video dives into the history, mathematics, and modern relevance of ternary logic - from Aristotle to Łukasiewicz, from Boolean circuits to SQL queries - and why this forgotten idea might still shape the future of computing. Sources, transcript and more available on codeolences.com 🟣 Subscribe for more deep dives into strange tech, forgotten history, and curious ideas in computing. ▶️ This video is part of a series called "The Weird and the Wired" You can find the whole playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsVlfvA9XiuDhAeZkcIjOlWPWV0h4enpa 🟣 Social media: - X https://x.com/Codeolences - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@codeolences - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/user/Codeolences_ - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/codeolences - Website https://www.codeolences.com Chapters: 00:00 Schrödinger’s Cat and Binary Thinking 01:33 The Basics of Digital Logic 02:47 Aristotle’s Law of the Excluded Middle 03:56 Łukasiewicz and Three Valued Logic 07:21 Sponsored Segment 08:23 Implementations of Three Valued Logic This video was sponsored by Brilliant. Produced by Codeolences Edited by Arjun Nyalpelly and Codeolences