Overview

A rigorous, yet accessible and entertaining introduction to the field of logic, this book provides students with a unique insight into logic as a living field and how it connects to other fields of inquiry including philosophy, computer science, linguistics, and mathematics. With no background knowledge needed, students are introduced to a critical examination of 'classical logic', and the technical issues and paradoxes that may be encountered. Each chapter includes key pedagogical features such as marginal notes, definitions, chapter summaries and practice exercises. Arguments are backed up by authentic examples of logic within natural languages and everyday life. The flexible chapter structure allows instructors to tailor their teaching for either a one-semester or two-semester course, according to their students' needs and knowledge. Online resources include a companion website featuring further readings, class handouts, LaTeX resources, along with an Online Proof Evaluator allowing students to get real-time feedback.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jason Decker (Carleton College, Minnesota)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009220552

ISBN 10:   1009220551
Pages:   461
Publication Date:   17 April 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Primary & secondary/elementary & high school ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

1. The Foundations of Classical Propositional Logic; 2. Truth-Functionality and the Boolean Connectives; 3. Truth, Consequence, and Explosions!; 4. Rules for Boolean Connectives; 5. Cracks in the Utopian Vision: Apparent Disconnects Between PL and Natural Language, and how Pragmatics Might Help; 6. Conditionals I; 7. Conditionals II; 8. Logical Form, Hidden Form, and Deep Structure; 9. Truth-Functional Completeness Etc.; 10. From Aristotelian Logic to Quantifiers and Variables; 11. The Foundations of Quantified Logic and the System QL; 12. Formal Semantics for PL and QL; 13. Controversy Over How to Handle Descriptions; 14. Natural Deduction Rules for QL; 15. QL Proof Strategies, Advice, and Derived Rules; 16. More Cracks: Reference Failure; 17. Semantic Tableaux; 18. Completeness and Soundness Worries (and Prospects for Their Resolutions); 19. The Journey From Extension to Intension; 20. Lambdas!; 21. The Sorites Paradox and the Problem of Vagueness; 22. The Liar and its Descendants; 23. Finding a Way Forward.

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Author Information

Jason Decker is a Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at Carleton College, where he has taught a variety of courses in logic, language, mind, epistemology, cognitive science, conspiracy theories and color. He has been teaching formal logic for twenty years since receiving his Ph.D. from MIT in 2006. He has served as an associate editor of the journal Analysis and has published numerous papers on relevant topics.

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