Logic: A Very Short IntroductionLogic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is. He explores the philosophical roots of the subject, explaining how modern formal logic deals with issues ranging from the existence of God and the reality of time to paradoxes of probability and decision theory. Along the way, the basics of formal logic are explained in simple, non-technical terms, showing that logic is a powerful and exciting part of modern philosophy. In this new edition Graham Priest expands his discussion to cover the subjects of algorithms and axioms, and proofs in mathematics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
Validity what follows from what? | 1 |
Truth functionsor not? | 7 |
Names and quantifiers is nothing something? | 17 |
Descriptions and existencedid the Greeks worship Zeus? | 24 |
Selfreference what is this chapter about? | 30 |
Necessity and possibility what will be must be? | 37 |
Conditionals whats in an if ? | 45 |
The future and the past is time real? | 53 |
Decision theory great expectations | 92 |
Halt What goes there? | 100 |
Maybe it is truebut you cant prove it | 110 |
A little history and some further reading | 119 |
Glossary | 127 |
Problems | 133 |
Problem solutions | 137 |
Bibliography | 149 |
Identity and change is anything ever the same? | 61 |
Vagueness how do you stop sliding down a slippery slope? | 68 |
Probability the strange case of the missing reference class | 76 |
Inverse probability you cant be indifferent about it | 84 |
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End Ads | 157 |
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Common terms and phrases
algorithm Argument to Design axiom system bike Church-Turing Thesis code number compound tenses conclusion conditional probability conjunction consider cosmos David deductively valid disjunction evaluate its validity example existence F F F fact FINAL following inference given Gödel's Hence identity incompleteness theorem inductive inference is valid input invalid inverse probabilities John kind km/h Leibniz Leibniz's Law liar paradox Löb's Theorem logicians Main ideas mathematician mathematics Michael modern logic modus ponens Names and quantifiers negation OUP CORRECTED PROOF output person who won Peter philosophy pigs can fly pr(w predicate premisses are true Principle of Indifference problem prove Queen is rich rain reasoning reference class Roger Scruton self-reference Short Introduction someone sorites sorites paradox SPi Chapter statement suppose Symbolize the following tense operators things tomorrow true or false truth functions truth table truth value value F won the race