Both volumes provide exercises and their solutions. It covers i basic approaches to logic, including proof theory and especially model theory, ii extensions of standard logic such as modal logic that are important in philosophy, and. This category contains pages that are part of the introduction to philosophy book. Logic category studies and exercises in formal logic by john neville keynes the macmillan company, 1906 in addition to a detailed exposition of certain portions of formal logic, the following pages contain a number of problems worked out in detail and unsolved problems, by means of which the student may test his command over logical processes.
Unlike normal education where we gather information, learning logic is trying to teach yourself how to thi. An introduction to formal logic cambridge introductions to philosophy currently unavailable. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and antirealism it aims to be an accessible guide to. Logic is, and has always been, an essential part of philosophy. Introduction to philosophy logic formal logic logicians describe various formal systems of logic which are intended to match a precise but limited range of reasoning. Leaving aside the issue of the definition of philosophical logic, i think that the most famous book about it is the. Introduction to formal philosophy sven ove hansson. An introduction to formal logic by peter smith 9780521008044. The webpage for the first edition says more about the book. But beyond these very practical benefits, informal logic is the gateway to an elegant and fascinating branch of philosophy known as formal logic, which is philosophys equivalent to calculus. This book will make an ideal text for a first logic course. Many of the arguments presented in this book are, and need to be. We cover the basics of argumentation, categorical logic, propositional logic, propositional proofs natural deduction. Introduction to formal logic with philosophical applications.
This textbook was written with the fully onlinc student and the independent learner in mind. This book is an introduction to logic for students of contemporary philosophy. Peter smith introduces the reader to the languages of propositional and predicate logic, and then develops formal systems for evaluating arguments translated into these languages, concentrating on the easily comprehensible tree method. Philosophy of mind surveys the central themes in philosophy of mind and places them in a historical and contemporary context intended to engage firsttime readers in the field. Depends a bit what level you are at, and if you have any math background. It employs concepts which are crucial for understanding thought and language, and demands a mastery of. Formal philosophy merges work in different areas of philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, computer science, linguistics, physics, psychology, biology, economics, political theory, and sociology. The first edition of an introduction to formal logic was published by. Rigorous yet engaging and accessible, introduction to formal logic with philosophical applications is composed of two parts.
If your roommate picked up the book and thumbed through it, they would not immediately become a logic student. This course introduces viewers to an introduction to formal symbolic logic. An introduction to formal logic kindle edition by smith, peter. A scope of such a systemand the corresponding expressability of its formal languagematches the range of reasoning it is.
Language, truth and logic dover books on western philosophy. The best logic books, and an explanation of what formal logic is and how to learn it, by. Husserls logical investigations, published in two volumes in 19012, established a new way of thinking about language, meaning, and evidence, and was the first to pose a clear distinction between formal logic and formal ontology. A distinctive feature is that, alongside the formal work, there is illuminating philosophical commentary. When attempting to learn formal logic, you have to be wary of getting disillusioned and disheartened, oft times from the initial difficulty. It gives an account of the historical development of logic, the main systems of it, its inductive, deductive and symbolic dimensions, and it examines the logical fallacies. The first edition of an introduction to formal logic was published by cambridge university press in november 2003 with a number of later corrected reprintings this is an accessible quite slowpaced introductory textbook aimed at beginning philosophy students, based on the first year course for cambridge philosophy students for many years. Formal logic provides us with a powerful set of techniques for criticizing some arguments and showing others to be valid. But cognitive studies show we are wired to accept false beliefs. This book is a beautiful entrypoint, a must, in the world of logic. Can you recommend me 1 or 2 good formal logic books. An introduction to formal logic cambridge university press. This book now stands in my list of outstanding books on logic. This title offers an accessible introduction to this new interdisciplinary research area to a wide academic audience.
The best books on logic five books expert recommendations. An introduction to formal logic smith, peter libri in. Magnus, an associate professor at the university at albany, state university of new york. Yet, it is possible for someone besides a logic student to. About the book the book the book titled, an introduction to logic, introduces students and other readers, interested in logic and philosophy, to some important aspects of the discipline of logic. Given that this is a text on formal logic, the main currency of which is expressions in formal rather than natural languages, this cant be considered a significant drawback.
You might really enjoy harry j genslers book, introduction to logic and in. An introduction to philosophical logic is a popular mainstay for students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language. Introduction to logic is a proven textbook that has been honed through the collaborative efforts of many scholars over the last five decades. You can view a list of all subpages under the book main page not including the book main page itself, regardless of whether theyre categorized, here. An introduction to formal logic paperback illustrated, may 17 1997. An introduction to formal logic by smith, peter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An introduction to formal logic cambridge introductions to philosophy. A touchstone for analytic philosophers and other kinds of. Although the two volumes of logic, language, and meaning can be used independently of one another, together they provide a comprehensive overview of modern logic as it is used as a tool in the analysis of natural language. I have discussed two books which apply the thinking thats captured in formal languages, and not wellcaptured in natural languages, to philosophical problems. For tellers a modern formal logic primer, here is a link to the main page for the book you can download all the files for free on this page. An introduction to formal logic textbook equity open. This is a crisp, clear, and concise introduction to firstorder classical logic, suitable for undergraduate students in philosophy, linguistics, and allied fields. Introduction to formal logic logic matterslogic matters.
Smiths superb entrypoint an introduction to formal logic and the lovely logic, a very short introduction by graham priest 2. These techniques are relevant to all of us with an interest in being skilful and accurate reasoners. This book will make an ideal text for a first logic course, and will provide a firm basis for further work in formal and philosophical logic. Introduction to formal logic with philosophical applications russell marcus on. A preliminary section opens the subject under the heading of truthfunctions. In this highly accessible book, peter smith presents a guide to the fundamental aims and basic elements of formal logic. Logic is the key to philosophy, mathematics, and science. Peter smith was formerly senior lecturer in philosophy at the university of cambridge. Magnus university at albany, state university of new york. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. I learned logic from mendelson, but ive also seen enderton used as an introductory text. Learn logic from an awardwinning professor of philosophy. Inductive logic investigates the process of drawing probable likely, plausible though fallible conclusions from premises.
From john sanders, professor of philosophy at the rochester institute of technology, comes the course, symbolic logic. Two additional parts on quantification and classes, each subdivided into numerous brief specifics, complete the overview. I think that both books assume you have some passing familiarity with the. Yet, it is possible for someone besides a logic student to read this book. Book description forall x is an open access introductory textbook in formal logic. Logic is intellectual selfdefense against such assaults on reason and also a method of quality control for checking the validity of your own views. Introduction formal logic logic cambridge university press. A good start for the absolute basics is paul tellers book it is free here, and has an answer manual for all the exercises which is somewhat of a rarity if you get through that and what to continue, check out peter smiths site, it has a great guide aimed at philosophers, though for self learners, complete with. In 15 lectures, sanders offers an introduction to symbolic, or formal, deductive logic and techniques, such as truth tables, truth trees, and formal derivations. Modal operators 323 nontruthfunctionality 323 modal and nonmodal propositions. Logic category studies and exercises in formal logic by john neville keynes the macmillan company, 1906 in addition to a detailed exposition of certain portions of formal logic, the following pages contain a number of problems worked out in detail and unsolved problems, by means of which the student may test his command over logical. Introduction to philosophylogicformal logic wikibooks.
The explanations are more thorough, more from the ground up than usual. In addition, it continues to capture student interest through its personalized human setting and. A good start for the absolute basics is paul tellers book it is free here, and has an answer manual for all the exercises which is somewhat of a rarity if you get through that and what to continue, check out peter smiths site, it has a great guide aimed at philosophers, though for self learners. After working through the material in this book, a student should be able to understand most quantified expressions that arise in their philosophical reading. Inductive logic is a very difficult and intricate subject, partly because the. An introduction to formal logic by peter smith goodreads.
These important founding texts of the movement, however, have been influential primarily amongst philosophers. I think that both books assume you have some passing familiarity with the very basics of formal logic, but you can find a lot of that material online or in. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. What is the most famous book on philosophical logic. My fifth choice is willard van orman quines book philosophy of logic. Lastly, a practical example of a philosopher contending with a bad argument. Review some of our builtin biases, and discover that logic is the. The way we do this is by introducing new termsi introduced validity as a. That was my first logic textbook, and i think it gave me a good introduction to symbolic logic. Tarskis introduction to logic, a jewel, followed by p. It covers translation, proofs, and formal semantics for sentential and predicate logic. Awardwinning professor of philosophy steven gimbel of gettysburg college guides you with wit and charm through the full scope of this immensely rewarding subject in an introduction to formal logic, 24 engaging halfhour lectures that teach you logic from the ground upfrom the fallacies of everyday thinking to cutting edge ideas on the.
A bit like philosophy, logic is a word with a lot of different currency and. The first part chapters 15 provides a focused, nutsandbolts introduction to formal deductive logic that covers syntax, semantics, translation, and natural deduction for propositional and predicate logics. Reductio ad absurdum tests 315 summary 320 6 modal propositional logic 323 1. Its scrupulous attention to detail and precision in exposition and explanation is matched by the greatest accuracy in all associated detail. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and antirealism it aims to be an accessible guide to philosophical logic. Geared toward college undergraduates new to the subject, this concise introduction to formal logic was written by two noted scholars and prolific authors in the field. If a page of the book isnt showing here, please add text bookcat to the end of the page concerned. Influential philosophers throughout history have argued that humans are purely rational beings. What is the best intro to logic book for a self learner. An introduction to formal logic open textbook library. Volume 1, introduction to logic, begins with a historical overview and then offers a thorough introduction. Peter smith, an introduction to formal logic philpapers. I have introduced two books for learning formal logic, formal systems, and formal languages. It focuses on debates about the status and character of the mind and its seemingly subjective nature in an apparently more objective world.