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Logic Primer
Logic Primer presents a rigorous introduction to natural deduction systems of sentential and first-order logic. The text is designed to foster the student-instructor relationship. The key concepts are laid out in concise definitions and comments, with the expectation that the instructor will elaborate upon them. New to the second edition is the addition of material on the logic of identity in chapters 3 and 4. An innovative interactive Web site, consisting of a "Logic Daemon" and a "Quizmaster," encourages students to formulate their own proofs and links them to appropriate explanations in the book.
216 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 19, 2022
کتاب‌ها� مقدماتی‌ا� که در انگلیسی برای آموزش منطق (گزاره و محمولات) نوشته می‌شو� عموما بسیار مفصل اند. مثلا این‌ک� چنین کتاب‌های� پانصد صفحه باشند، اصلا عجیب نیست. این کتاب (که اکنون ویراست سوم آن بیرون آمده اما من ویراست دوم آن را خواندم) کتابی است مختصر (اصل آن حدود صد صفحه است) که طوری نوشته شده که خودآموز نباشد بلکه با استاد خوانده شود لذا طول و تفصل ندارد و کدوار بیان کرده است.
May 3, 2020
This book is good enough to get familiar with the basics of formal logic. Not enough good to fall in love with it. It's true that it has lots of exercises and the keys are helpful, however sometimes it takes googling to understand the material because it's intended to be used only as a suplement to an instructor led course.
My only takeaway from the book is the formal language of sentential propositions.
I don't think I will be able to make use of it in real life.
As for the rules of proof and truth tables, I couldn't find enough motivation and reason to spend a few weeks to learn this just to forget about it in the next few weeks.
My only takeaway from the book is the formal language of sentential propositions.
I don't think I will be able to make use of it in real life.
As for the rules of proof and truth tables, I couldn't find enough motivation and reason to spend a few weeks to learn this just to forget about it in the next few weeks.
February 8, 2022
Used for an introductory philosophy course. The practice sections were very useful but I found this type of philosophical understanding difficult to comprehend.
January 27, 2025
A great introduction to logic through a "do, don't tell" approach.
February 9, 2025
I always aim to order a text that provides a ‘straight� version of introductory logic, even as I push against it and riff off of it. At first glance, this text seemed promising for that purpose. It’s extremely short and explicitly designed to be supplemented by conversation.
I don’t even mind the constant reassurances that each step is easy—no problem, no remainder, nothing thought-provoking. I can simply poke fun at these moments and introduce the problems myself.
But at this point, I don’t see how to use this as a primary text in a first logic course, or even as a reference tool, without introducing unnecessary confusion—confusion that we would then have to waste time dispelling. I don’t want to spend valuable in-person time compensating for what’s needlessly awkward—often, it seems, because the drive for concision is either pushed one step too far or applied inconsistently.
Of course, there is no single ideal formal system for an introduction to logic, not even a single ideal system of natural deduction—just as there is no single ideal programming language.
And to be fair, the design innovations here are interesting, in retrospect—for someone who already understands not just the logical technique but also some of the philosophical issues driving these choices. It would be valuable to take a natural system of natural deduction and show, in a second step on the way to a third, that these modifications can be made. But doing so presupposes both a technical grounding and a motivation—neither of which this text is likely to help students acquire. The latter (motivation) can be supplemented with commentary and resistance. The former (technical grounding) is harder to make up for without - another straight text to come to the rescue of this one.
My view is extremely revisable.
I don’t even mind the constant reassurances that each step is easy—no problem, no remainder, nothing thought-provoking. I can simply poke fun at these moments and introduce the problems myself.
But at this point, I don’t see how to use this as a primary text in a first logic course, or even as a reference tool, without introducing unnecessary confusion—confusion that we would then have to waste time dispelling. I don’t want to spend valuable in-person time compensating for what’s needlessly awkward—often, it seems, because the drive for concision is either pushed one step too far or applied inconsistently.
Of course, there is no single ideal formal system for an introduction to logic, not even a single ideal system of natural deduction—just as there is no single ideal programming language.
And to be fair, the design innovations here are interesting, in retrospect—for someone who already understands not just the logical technique but also some of the philosophical issues driving these choices. It would be valuable to take a natural system of natural deduction and show, in a second step on the way to a third, that these modifications can be made. But doing so presupposes both a technical grounding and a motivation—neither of which this text is likely to help students acquire. The latter (motivation) can be supplemented with commentary and resistance. The former (technical grounding) is harder to make up for without - another straight text to come to the rescue of this one.
My view is extremely revisable.
February 4, 2008
Extremely great fun
February 13, 2008
Short book covering logic essentials and has many problems to solve.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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