Secrets, Symbols, and Systems: Parallels between Cryptanalysis and Algebra, 1580-1700 Export

@article{citeulike:213688, abstract = {Codebreaking was an important secret of state in early modern courts. Its practitioners included several important figures in the history of mathematics, particularly Francois Viete, whose innovations in method and symbolism were crucial for modern algebra. Viete formulated an \"infallible rule\" for decryption that uses concepts of symbol and system similar to those of his new algebra. As the Book of Nature began to be read in new ways, the example of codebreaking was noted by Bacon, Descartes, and Boyle. Leibniz considered cryptology to be a model for his \"universal characteristic\" and pressed John Wallis to disclose the general rules of cryptanalysis, citing the analogy with the methods of mathematics. The parallels between algebra and cryptanalysis illuminate the symbolism and methodical procedure characteristic of both activities.}, author = {Pesic, Peter}, citeulike-article-id = {213688}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/237832}, journal = {Isis}, keywords = {17thc, algebra, cryptology}, number = {4}, pages = {674--692}, posted-at = {2005-05-28 21:50:02}, priority = {3}, title = {Secrets, Symbols, and Systems: Parallels between Cryptanalysis and Algebra, 1580-1700}, url = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/237832}, volume = {88}, year = {1997} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:213688 L3 - citeulike-article-id:213688 N2 - Codebreaking was an important secret of state in early modern courts. Its practitioners included several important figures in the history of mathematics, particularly Francois Viete, whose innovations in method and symbolism were crucial for modern algebra. Viete formulated an "infallible rule" for decryption that uses concepts of symbol and system similar to those of his new algebra. As the Book of Nature began to be read in new ways, the example of codebreaking was noted by Bacon, Descartes, and Boyle. Leibniz considered cryptology to be a model for his "universal characteristic" and pressed John Wallis to disclose the general rules of cryptanalysis, citing the analogy with the methods of mathematics. The parallels between algebra and cryptanalysis illuminate the symbolism and methodical procedure characteristic of both activities. IS - 4 JF - Isis EP - 692 TI - Secrets, Symbols, and Systems: Parallels between Cryptanalysis and Algebra, 1580-1700 VL - 88 SP - 674 KW - 17thc KW - algebra KW - cryptology AU - Pesic, Peter PY - 1997/// UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/237832 ER -