An Introduction to Logic and Scientific Method [Paperback]

Morris R. Cohen (Author), Ernest Nagel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1931541914 | ISBN-13: 978-1931541916 | Publication Date: June 2002

An Introduction to Logic and Scientific Method is a college level primer on logic. This book was widely used by scholars especially those studying economics as an introduction to logical thought in preparation for intellectual discourse. Ludwig von Mises was known to say that all students of economics should read this book as a first step in their training as economists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Simon Publications (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931541914
• ISBN-13: 978-1931541916
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As recommended by Ludwig von Mises, March 15, 2010

By 

Jake Le Master (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction To Logic And Scientific Method (Hardcover)

"To understand economics, this is the book you should read first."

- Ludwig von Mises

Morris R. Cohen and Ernest Nagel set before themselves aims threefold to be striven for in the formulation of the book. First, they propose that "the present text seeks to bring some order into the confusion of tongues, concerning the subject matter of logic" to dismiss the concern of a "of the mediator between hostile points of view", as "the traditional distrust of peacemaker in the intellectual realm difficult to appreciate, since he so often substitutes an unclear and inconsistent amalgam for points of view which at least have the merit of a certain clarity" (p. xiii). Secondly, they strive to cure the weariness often ascribed "to the study of logic [which] testifies to the unimaginative way logical principles have been taught and misused" by consolidating "sound logical doctrine with sound pedagogy" and providing "illustriative material suggestive of the role of logic in every department of thought" (p. xiv).

Book I, Formal Logic, opens with a clear and undemanding elucidation of some of the principal ideas in relation to the investigation and classification of propositions, and of the connections between propositions (Chs. III and IV). Then follows, in two chapters, a straightforward and conventional (as it should be) exposition of the doctrine of the syllogism and its elaborations. Chapter VI contains an introductory treatment of Generalized or Mathematical Logic, and Chapter VII a rather more advanced but very interestingly presented discussion of The Nature of a Logical or Mathematical System. Chapter VIII introduces Probable Inference, and in this one form of the frequency theory is defended. The concluding chapter of Book I, Some Problems of Logic, is somewhat of the nature of a collection of odds and ends-the Paradox of Inference, the charge of petitio principii against the syllogism, the Laws of Thought, and the basis of logical principles in the nature of things.

Book II, Applied Logic and the Scientific Method, is the Victorian mansion opulently furnished and full of interesting nooks and corners, but in which it is a little demanding to find one's way about and preserve a sense of direction. With few preliminaries a good start is made by a discussion of the role of hypotheses in science (Ch. XII). Progress is slightly slowed, however, by a chapter on Classification and Definition (Ch. XIII). We move forward again at a brisker rate in a reasonably detailed but not too comprehensive chapter on The Methods of Experimental Inquiry (Ch. XIII).

In Chapter XIV, Probability and Induction, a question is raised: What is inductive reasoning? This chapter introduces the problem of sampling and of reasoning from analysis. Chapter XV is on Measurement and Chapter XVI on Statistical Methods. There are then discussions on Probable Inference in History and Allied Inquiries (Ch. XVII), on Logic and Critical Evaluation (Ch. XVIII), and a chapter on Fallacies (Ch. XIX).

Some of the analysis is very well done; more exceptionally where it shoulders to uproot the common misconceptions of beginners. This appertains in Chapter IX, in which the historical demurrals to the syllogism are treated in the section on "The Paradox of Inference", in which Mill's arguments are rejoindered in the section "Is the Syllogism a Petitio Pricipii?" and furthermore where the discourse on "The Laws of Thought" perhaps be summed up in a rephrasing of Russell's expression: The extraordinary thing about Boole's "Laws of Thought" is the reality that no person had ever thought of ruminating in that manner hitherto. It may be stated further that some denunciation of certain pragmatists is (perhaps suitably) disregarded, though Schiller on (p. 438, 457), is submitted as an enquiry for student experimentation and assessment.

Its questions and exercises on each chapter at the end of the book are superb. Outstanding also is the authors' presentation of many of their discussions with classical literary selections. The authors establish a great way a sense of conversational informality between author and reader. There is a quality precis criticism of Aristotelian logic (p. 111); a good rudimentary discourse on the "self-evidence" of axioms (p. 131); a good deliberation on the nature of probable inference (p. 157); a very good discussion on the perils and fallacies of the use of statistics, to be recommended to all statistical fiends (p. 316); a really informing discussion of various abuses to which the scientific method is susceptible (p. 382). The final chapter of the book may function as a basic introduction to the significance and function of science in modern civilization.

Cohen and Nagel have assembled a work which should confer on much to a general interest in logic. A fair balance is arrived between the heed of the college student and the interests of the general reader to both of whom the work should serve to convey the authors' admiration of "the realistic formalism of Aristotle, the scientific penetration of Pierce, the pedagogical soundness of Dewey, and the mathematical rigor of Russell" (p. iv).

It is of little surprise that great economist, Ludwig von Mises, had his students study this book as a prerequisite to their study of economics. It would be wise of modern economic pedagogues to follow suit.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting Logic and Science, June 12, 2011

By 

Gary L. Herstein (So. IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: An Introduction To Logic And Scientific Method (Kindle Edition)

There are two things that make this text especially useful to a contemporary reader. The first is that it is among the very few texts on logic that make the explicit connection between logic and inquiry; hence, scientific method itself. This connection is a fundamental aspect of the American movements in philosophy, most specifically Pragmatism. However, works like those by John Dewey did not develop the formal aspects of logic to any significant degree, so this work creates a bridge between the general theory of inquiry, the philosophy of science, and formal logic that Dewey only glossed.

The second point is the price. Thematically, this book compares quite well with Hurley's Intro, which also makes the connections between logic, general inquiry, critical thinking, and scientific method. But much as I like Hurley's book, it is *STAGGERINGLY* expensive. I simply cannot in conscience recomend a text that costs *WELL* over $150.00, however much I might otherwise admire its comprehensiveness. (I've an entire rant about the text book industry that I'll not go into here.)

The Kindle edition is very nicely put together with an active table of contents and all the other goodies one would look for. Things like the ability to search the text at any microscopic level that tickles you as well as adding as many comprehensive annotations and comments as you might like make this electronic version well worth the very reasonable price. There are some typos in the Kindle edition; the process of conversion, especially of texts with technical symbolism in them, is still not perfect. Consequently, this e-book might prove puzzling &/or difficult at places for persons trying to teach themselves the subject on their own.

Per the logic parts, the authors (Cohen and Nagel) spend time on both the syllogism and the more contemporary forms of mathematical logic. They are writing post-"Principia", so their treatment is sufficiently contemporary that any person -- whether enrolled student or autodidact -- will have no trouble translating symbolisms and treatments into the most "fashion forward" dealings with subjects relating to logic. The authors reject any psychologistic or relativistic approach to either logic or science, which is the only move that can even hope to make sense of either. But at the same time, the authors never lose sight of the pedagogical intentions of this book. As such, it remains an accessible and enormously viable teaching instrument, even in contemporary class rooms.

(Any interested individual, with only a little discipline, could also use this as a self-teaching instrument. However, as with any self-teaching process, in the absence of a mentor or teacher the exercises do not answer themselves and any puzzles that arise in the reading would be hurdles to overcome. But this is true of any self-teaching process, so it does not stand as a criticism of the text but merely a reminder to those person's who engage in learning on their own.)

This book can easily serve as an intro to logic, and/or a bridge/supplementary text to philosophy of science for students who have already had an elementary or intro logic class. Any teacher who wishes to engage in education that takes into account the reality that students do not have unbounded resources is, I would argue, morally obligated to return to this text and consider it as a primary teaching instrument. On the other hand, any autodidact could do significantly worse than Cohen and Nagel's brilliant intro to gain a substantive foothold in both logic, philosophy of science, and the very real connections between them.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Logic Book Ever, March 3, 2009

By 

Mary Vincent Einert - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction To Logic And Scientific Method (Hardcover)

This is the most comprhensive book on logic that I have found. The only thing I would like to have added is an answer key to the exercises at the back of the book.