Thinking about Logic: Classic Essays

“The formal logic that we teach in our introductory classes is simple, elegant, and as this thoughtfully conceived collection reminds us, often extremely puzzling. Thinking about Logic will motivate students to reflect both on fundamental notions of basic logic and on the relationship between formal reasoning and reasoning in other contexts. Undergraduate courses will be enriched and improved by adding it to the list of required readings.” —Danielle Macbeth, Haverford College

Thinking about Logic is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality. The editors have selected each essay for its brevity, clarity, and impact, and they have included insightful introductions and discussion questions. The puzzles raised will help readers acquire a more thorough understanding of fundamental logical concepts and a firmer command of the connections between logic and other areas of philosophical study: epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

STEVEN M. CAHN is professor of philosophy at The City University of New York Graduate Center.

ROBERT B. TALISSE is professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

SCOT T F. AIKIN is a senior lecturer at Vanderbilt University.