Designed to make logic interesting and accessible -- without sacrificing content or rigor -- this classic introduction to contemporary propositional logic explains the symbolization of English sentences and develops formal-proof, truth-table, and truth-tree techniques for evaluating arguments. Organizes content around natural-deduction formal-proof procedures, truth tables, and truth trees. Also presents logical statement connectives gradually, one per chapter, and finally, increases readers' awareness of the arguments they read and hear every day by providing examples of actual arguments to which they can (...) readily relate. (shrink)

This clearly written book makes logic interesting and easier to learn without sacrificing content or rigor. KEY TOPICS: It covers symbolization, proofs, counterexamples, and truth trees. These topics are presented in graded steps, beginning with the symbolization of categorical propositions and concluding with the properties of relations. Logic is applied to materials with which readers will be familiar; both examples and exercises are drawn from newspapers, television, and other popular sources. MARKET: For individuals intrigued by the formal study of logic.

This clearly written book makes logic interesting and easier to learn without sacrificing content or rigor. It covers symbolization, proofs, counterexamples, and truth trees. These topics are presented in graded steps, beginning with the symbolization of categorical propositions and concluding with the properties of relations. Logic is applied to materials with which readers will be familiar; both examples and exercises are drawn from newspapers, television, and other popular sources. For individuals intrigued by the formal study of logic.

Some philosophers maintain that the primary bearers of truth values are propositions, rather than sentences, statements, or mental acts. Propositions they understand to be not locatable in space or time. My purpose in this paper is to give reasons for doubting that such propositions exist.