"Chris Doss" <itschris13 at hotmail.com> asks:
> Any truth to the oft-reputed legend I've heard that the
> Enigma machine was
> based on Wittgenstein's schema in the Tractatus? (One of my favorite
> philosophical books, by the way; but then I'm one of the only
> people I've
> ever met who actually liked Carnap).
Not that I know of. There is absolutely no mention of the Tractatus or of Wittgenstein in David Kahn's _The Code Breakers_. I use the old edition, rather than the abridged version.
The Enigma was preceded by the Hebern rotor cipher, developed to no avail in the US by Edward Hebern, in the 20s I think. See Kahn for dates and details. IIRC the US screwed him.
But I believe it is difficult to find a "first inventor." It was an idea in the air. Thomas Jefferson invented a kind of rotor cipher system, after all, at least a century before.
Maybe your story confuses several "Traictées" on cryptography and Johannes Tristhemius?
For Carroll Cox: I was intrigued by your mention of your work in cryptanalysis. Maybe you would be interested in the American Cryptogram Association? (shameless plug by me).
-- John K. Taber
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