Freethought & Rationalism Archive

luvluv · 07-30-2003, 03:46 PM

I'm looking to brush up on me logic in the near future and I've been roaming the net looking for the best textbooks to use as a refresher course.

The textbook that my local college uses costs 60 bucks (USED!) but I found a cheaper version online for much less. The problem, though, is that it is the 3rd edition of a book with (I believe) 7 editions. Should this concern me at all? Have there been any major revolutions in logic such that I should the 60 bucks to have the latest edition? Even the 3rd edition that I am attempting to purchace was published sometime in the early 90's. Can logic have changed since then?

And if anyone can reccomend a good introductory logic book (prefferably one that deals with modal logic) please shout me out.

Pyrrho · 07-30-2003, 05:05 PM

The "best" logic book depends on what aspect of logic one is interested in studying. I don't know which would be best for modal logic, but I will offer a general comment about newer editions of logic texts. Very frequently, the differences are in examples used, so that they are current and more familiar to students. Sometimes, an explanation is changed in order to attempt to clarify some aspect that was judged to be unclear before. And sometimes, the author decides that something that was left out of a previous edition is important to include, or that something that was included is not important after all.

Basically, without knowing which book we are talking about, an older edition is probably fine for your purposes. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

However, some logic texts are better than others on some things. For example, from the first edition, Copi's book has explained the concept of material implication very well, whereas most logic texts are pretty awful for this. Unfortunately, Copi is less good for informal logic than many competitors. So my advice to you is this: Get more than one textbook, and get them by different people, if you have the time for reading more than one. If the concept of "material implication" interests you, I recommend Copi above all others I have seen.

Albert Cipriani · 07-30-2003, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Practically no additions to the principles of formal (minor) logic have emerged since the time of Aristotle, who was the first man to write a treatise on the subject.

You'll find that quote in a slim volumn called "Basic Logic," by Raymond J. McCall Ph.D. , published by Barnes & Noble as one of their "College Outline Series." Page for page (240 to be exact) that book distills more inteligence than anything I've ever read. And it only cost me $1.75. So save yourself $58.25 by buying it instead of the latest greatest one you're considering.

According to McCall, if you want to up the ante, consider the following:

Quote:

Chief among... modern presentations of Aristotelian logic is the Petite Logique of Jacques Maritain, translated into English under the title, "An Introduction to Logic," New York: Sheed and Ward, 1937.

-- Good Reading, Albert the Traditional Catholic

Bluenose · 07-30-2003, 08:38 PM

RE: Logic books, QV Hugo's list which I just bumped

Prodros · 07-30-2003, 11:48 PM

As others have already pointed out, there hasn't been any major changes in formal logic for quite some time; the changes between editions are mostly limited to updating the examples and removing typos. If the current edition of the book you are considering is the 7th and it costs $60, and you could get the 3rd edition for considerably less, go for the 3rd edition.

On that note, here's an entry from The Philosophical Lexicon pertaining to Irwing Copi (and the fact that his logic book is up to the 11th edition):

Quote:

copiwrite , v. To come out with a revised edition for some purpose (e.g. to remove inconsistency or cut off the used book market).

As for books on modal logic, my recommendation is for
Hughes & Cresswell: A New Introduction to Modal Logic Although this book is supposed to be an introduction to modal logic, a good, previous grasp of SC (and PC) will not hurt, especially since their system is compatible with most other systems (i.e. the ones I've encoutered).

T...

luvluv · 07-31-2003, 12:07 PM

Thanks a lot everybody. It actually is Copi's book that I am looking to purchase, so those comments have been particularly illuminating. I will proceed as planned.

On a sidenote, isn't the college book market absolutely disgusting? I mean, they charge exorbitant prices for books, they have basically a captive market, collusion is probably extensive, so long as the curriculum changes, they never have to buy new merchandise. The local college bookseller, for instance, has had this particular logic book on their shelves for a good 5 years. (I believe the book on their shelf is the 7th edition). So every year for five years they buy the book for 10-30 dollars and sell them for 60 to kids who have no choice but to buy the books for whatever price the bookstore wants.

I forgot what a racket college bookstores are. I still get mad when I think about the HUNDREDS of dollars I spent on college textbooks my freshman year before I realized that most of the books I bought were totally unnecessary for the actual class.

Pyrrho · 07-31-2003, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luvluv
Thanks a lot everybody. It actually is Copi's book that I am looking to purchase, so those comments have been particularly illuminating. I will proceed as planned.

On a sidenote, isn't the college book market absolutely disgusting? I mean, they charge exorbitant prices for books, they have basically a captive market, collusion is probably extensive, so long as the curriculum changes, they never have to buy new merchandise. The local college bookseller, for instance, has had this particular logic book on their shelves for a good 5 years. (I believe the book on their shelf is the 7th edition). So every year for five years they buy the book for 10-30 dollars and sell them for 60 to kids who have no choice but to buy the books for whatever price the bookstore wants.

I forgot what a racket college bookstores are. I still get mad when I think about the HUNDREDS of dollars I spent on college textbooks my freshman year before I realized that most of the books I bought were totally unnecessary for the actual class.

Copi is a solid choice. There are good reasons why it has been in common use for so long. Though, as I mentioned before, it is not the best in every way, so there are legitimate reasons why someone may prefer something else.

Clutch · 07-31-2003, 05:06 PM

I recommend Logical Options by Bell, DeVidi and Solomon. It's very rigorous, but everything's explained clearly if you work through it. And it teaches classical, first-order, second-order, modal, intuitionistic... there's a lot of stuff in there for a paperback.

Also excellent is Boolos and Jeffrey's Computability and Logic.

DOLBAC DENIS · 08-01-2003, 02:02 AM

Being French, I am not sure "logic" in philosophy as the same meaning.
Logicians are a bit too much for me, because of my level in maths which has collapsed with the years, so I cannot really follow their reasonnings.
But basic logic in my opinion goes through reading Diderot' s philosophy, philosophical notes, letter to the blind, Rameau's nephew.
All those who came after said the same things but generally in a much more sophisticated way.
Epicure's letter to Menecee are a masterpiece too.
To give you a more sensitive answer would require some precision.
Aristotelician, combinatory, sto�cian,Hegelian, modal, proposals ....
Boole, Russel ? Whitehead...
It's all in Diderot, try to find his definition of "quackery" for example.

07-30-2003, 03:46 PM	#1
luvluv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Planet Lovetron Posts: 3,919	Best Logic Textbook? I'm looking to brush up on me logic in the near future and I've been roaming the net looking for the best textbooks to use as a refresher course. The textbook that my local college uses costs 60 bucks (USED!) but I found a cheaper version online for much less. The problem, though, is that it is the 3rd edition of a book with (I believe) 7 editions. Should this concern me at all? Have there been any major revolutions in logic such that I should the 60 bucks to have the latest edition? Even the 3rd edition that I am attempting to purchace was published sometime in the early 90's. Can logic have changed since then? And if anyone can reccomend a good introductory logic book (prefferably one that deals with modal logic) please shout me out.

07-30-2003, 08:38 PM	#4
Bluenose Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: small cold water flat Posts: 471	Hi luvluv RE: Logic books, QV Hugo's list which I just bumped

08-01-2003, 02:02 AM	#9
DOLBAC DENIS Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE PARIS Posts: 19	Logic Being French, I am not sure "logic" in philosophy as the same meaning. Logicians are a bit too much for me, because of my level in maths which has collapsed with the years, so I cannot really follow their reasonnings. But basic logic in my opinion goes through reading Diderot' s philosophy, philosophical notes, letter to the blind, Rameau's nephew. All those who came after said the same things but generally in a much more sophisticated way. Epicure's letter to Menecee are a masterpiece too. To give you a more sensitive answer would require some precision. Aristotelician, combinatory, sto�cian,Hegelian, modal, proposals .... Boole, Russel ? Whitehead... It's all in Diderot, try to find his definition of "quackery" for example.

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07-30-2003, 05:05 PM	#2
Pyrrho Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United States Posts: 7,351	The "best" logic book depends on what aspect of logic one is interested in studying. I don't know which would be best for modal logic, but I will offer a general comment about newer editions of logic texts. Very frequently, the differences are in examples used, so that they are current and more familiar to students. Sometimes, an explanation is changed in order to attempt to clarify some aspect that was judged to be unclear before. And sometimes, the author decides that something that was left out of a previous edition is important to include, or that something that was included is not important after all. Basically, without knowing which book we are talking about, an older edition is probably fine for your purposes. I wouldn't worry about that at all. However, some logic texts are better than others on some things. For example, from the first edition, Copi's book has explained the concept of material implication very well, whereas most logic texts are pretty awful for this. Unfortunately, Copi is less good for informal logic than many competitors. So my advice to you is this: Get more than one textbook, and get them by different people, if you have the time for reading more than one. If the concept of "material implication" interests you, I recommend Copi above all others I have seen.

07-31-2003, 12:07 PM	#6
luvluv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Planet Lovetron Posts: 3,919	Thanks a lot everybody. It actually is Copi's book that I am looking to purchase, so those comments have been particularly illuminating. I will proceed as planned. On a sidenote, isn't the college book market absolutely disgusting? I mean, they charge exorbitant prices for books, they have basically a captive market, collusion is probably extensive, so long as the curriculum changes, they never have to buy new merchandise. The local college bookseller, for instance, has had this particular logic book on their shelves for a good 5 years. (I believe the book on their shelf is the 7th edition). So every year for five years they buy the book for 10-30 dollars and sell them for 60 to kids who have no choice but to buy the books for whatever price the bookstore wants. I forgot what a racket college bookstores are. I still get mad when I think about the HUNDREDS of dollars I spent on college textbooks my freshman year before I realized that most of the books I bought were totally unnecessary for the actual class.

07-31-2003, 05:06 PM	#8
Clutch Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 3,751	I recommend Logical Options by Bell, DeVidi and Solomon. It's very rigorous, but everything's explained clearly if you work through it. And it teaches classical, first-order, second-order, modal, intuitionistic... there's a lot of stuff in there for a paperback. Also excellent is Boolos and Jeffrey's Computability and Logic.

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