This is a college-level textbook that discusses elementary symbolic logic.

This text focuses on basic topics and problems of logic, as well as decision theory and topics related to the philosophy of science and statistics. Topics covered include inductive inference; causal inferrence; probability calculus; expected value; confirmation theory; the justification of induction; the riddle of induction and theories of probability. It also includes coverage, in both historical and contemporary terms, of the traditional problem of induction raised by Hume.

It is generally agreed that these passages are among the most important to be found in the Tractatus; they give the gist of Wittgenstein 's argument for his atomistic ontology as well as the crucial notion of propositional analysis. It is surprising therefore that most discussions of these entries are cursory and fail to set out the argument in detail.

Gochet's book is the latest in an attempt to explain and examine some of the controversial themes in Quine's philosophy. Gochet describes himself as sharing Quine's general standpoint, and hence his critical remarks are mainly "internal" ones, "pointing out the stresses, strains, and inner tensions which reveal themselves as soon as one tries to put together Quine's sundry doctrines and positions.".

This is the sixth volume of the Opus series on the history of western philosophy. It is not intended for the novice but for readers who already have at least some familiarity with philosophical issues. Of necessity, some philosophers who did not write in English are covered; Frege of course is discussed and, more briefly, some of the late nineteenth-century scientist-philosophers like Mach and Poincaré. Because of the pervasive influence of Kant, brief and rather sketchy accounts of the "critical philosophy" (...) are found also, but readers who hope to profit from Skorupski's discussion had best have a prior acquaintance with Kant's work. (shrink)

This is a book with curious origins, one that Dummett says he wrote "without meaning to." It is the result of a failed attempt to supply an introduction for the second edition of his outstanding work, Frege: Philosophy of Language. In surveying the reaction to the first edition, Dummett was struck by the diversity of interpretations of Frege, and since that edition contained little by way of justification of his own reading, he felt that an introduction to the second edition (...) was called for in which his positions were argued and defended. However the manuscript quickly grew into a much larger work and became the present volume. Consequently, says Dummett, there is little discussion of the truth of Frege's doctrines, the discussion instead focusing on why Frege should be read Dummett's way and containing a listing and explanation of the various textual changes he felt were required for the second edition. In fact, however, there is more space devoted to a defense of Frege's views than Dummett would have us believe in the preface, and this is all to the good since it allows the book to stand on its own to a greater degree than would otherwise have been the case. Even so, it is intended as a companion volume to FPL, and the reader will not obtain a full appreciation of it unless FPL is read first. (shrink)