Files
Download Full Text (2.9 MB)
Download Chapter 1: Table of Contents, Intro, The Structure of Arguments (245 KB)
Download Chapter 2: Categorical Propositions (160 KB)
Download Chapter 3: Categorical Inferences (1.3 MB)
Download Chapter 4 & 5: Truth Functional Logic, Applications of Modern Logic (861 KB)
Download Chapter 6: Inductive Logic (184 KB)
Download Chapter 7: Informal Fallacies (157 KB)
Download Appendix: Natural Deduction (106 KB)
Description
An introduction to the discipline of logic covering subjects from the structures of arguments, classical and modern logic, categorical and inductive inferences, to informal fallacies.
- Over 30 years of development provides a sound empirical based pedagogy throughout the text.
- Examples in ordinary language using familiar examples avoids the suggestion of an alien cultural imposition.
- A focus on the basic representational techniques of classical and modern logic.
- Students introduced to basic concepts of set theory, using Venn diagrams to represent statements and evaluate arguments.
- Students introduced to basic concepts of propositional logic and the use of truth-tables.
- Students introduced to basic concepts of predicate logic and the use of mixed quantifiers.
- Students introduced to the relationship between logic diagrams, circuit diagrams, and gate diagrams in computer science.
- Students introduced to the use of logic in ordinary and scientific contexts.
- Students provided a historical introduction to the development of modern probability theory and its relationship to logic.
- Students introduced to basic concepts of statistical inference, with non-technical treatments of hasty and biased statistical generalizations. And a unique treatment of stereotypical thinking in terms of statistical syllogisms.
- Students introduced to basic notions in analogical and causal inference.
- Exercises requiring both passive (recognition) and active (construction) skills.
- Exercises including locutions and examples from standard English and ethnic dialects of English (African-American, Hispanic-American, etc)
- Answers for sample exercises provided, making the text closer to a self-teaching module
Publication Date
2019
City
Northampton
Keywords
logic, philosophy, OER, textbooks
Disciplines
Logic and Foundations of Mathematics | Philosophy
Recommended Citation
Mosley, Albert and Baltazar, Eulalio, "An Introduction to Logic: From Everyday Life to Formal Systems" (2019). Open Educational Resources: Textbooks, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/textbooks/1
Comments
Feedback on text is welcome and appreciated. Please contact Albert Mosley at amosley[at]smith.edu