Language, Proof and Logic [Paperback]

Jon Barwise (Author), John Etchemendy (Author), Gerard Allwein (Collaborator), Dave Barker-Plummer (Collaborator), Albert Liu (Collaborator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 157586374X | ISBN-13: 978-1575863740 | Publication Date: April 1, 2002 | Edition: 1st

This textbook/software package covers first-order language in a method appropriate for first and second courses in logic. The unique on-line grading services instantly grades solutions to hundred of computer exercises. It is specially devised to be used by philosophy instructors in a way that is useful to undergraduates of philosophy, computer science, mathematics, and linguistics.

The book is a completely rewritten and much improved version of The Language of First-order Logic. Introductory material is presented in a more systematic and accessible fashion. Advanced chapters include proofs of soundness and completeness for propositional and predicate logic, as well as an accessible sketch of Godel's first incompleteness theorem. The book is appropriate for a wide range of courses, from first logic courses for undergraduates (philosophy, mathematics, and computer science) to a first graduate logic course.

The package includes four pieces of software:

Tarski's World 5.0, a new version of the popular program that teaches the basic first-order language and its semantics; Fitch, a natural deduction proof environment for giving and checking first-order proofs;

Boole, a program that facilitates the construction and checking of truth tables and related notions (tautology, tautological consequence, etc.);

Submit, a program that allows students to submit exercises done with the above programs to the Grade Grinder, the automatic grading service.

Grade reports are returned to the student and, if requested, to the student's instructor, eliminating the need for tedious checking of homework. All programs will be available on both Windows and Macintosh OS. Instructors do not need to use the programs themselves in order to be able to take advantage of their pedagogical value.

The price of a new text/software package includes one Registration ID, which must be used each time work is submitted to the grading service. Once activated, the Registration ID is not transferable.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jon Barwise (1942-2000) was a mathematician, philosopher and logician. He taught at the Universities of Yale and Wisconsin before becoming the first director of the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford University. From 1990 until his death he was professor of philosophy at Indiana University. John Etchemendy has been professor of philosophy at Stanford since 1983. In 2000 he became Provost of Stanford University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 598 pages
• Publisher: CSLI Publications; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157586374X
• ISBN-13: 978-1575863740
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.9 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Software can only be used once, February 28, 2003

By 

L. Friedland (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Language, Proof and Logic (Paperback)

I bought a used copy of the book and software at the beginning of the term, for a class. Now that we're starting it, I find out that a) we will be using the CD's software, including the online grading service, and therefore b) the copy I bought is useless to me.

The grading service records one email address (i.e. that of the previous owner) per book number. That email, necessary for submitting homework and for sending you the results, cannot ever be changed. In my case, it turns out the CD (which includes a .pdf copy of the textbook anyway) was the important part of the purchase . . . and will not work since it's been used before.

So be warned: don't buy the package used if you will need the software.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great logic book with a fantastic feed back mechanism., February 16, 2002

By 

John "john" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Language, Proof, and Logic (Paperback)

I was recommended this recently book while visiting my old Philosophy Advisor while in Boston. I've been hooked ever since! While for me it has been a great review of logic, the problems and ability to have them anonymously graded on the net is great fun! At the end of chapter 3 one is already versed well enough in logic to use the more complicated search engines with boolean operators. (altavista advanced for example). Being able to use sophisticated search engines will prove to be more and more valuable and this book offers so much more.

Along with a rich and entertaining text, you get a (WindowsXP friendly) CD including four software applications: (Tarski's world, Fitch, Boole and Submit) all with the goal of making logic more interactive.

Tarksi's world offers a view of 3D geometric objects in which one is required to make true, then valid and eventually sound conclusions.

Fitch is a tool that lets one build FOL (First Order Logic) Proofs.

Boole is a truth table tool.

All applications compliment each other and are suppoted by Submit on the client side and Grade Grinder on the Server Side. So that one is never left too long without some feedback on whether or not the section has been understood.

The books website offers additional tips and hints.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Software is frustrating but ultimately helpful, October 9, 2002

By 

Grue - See all my reviews

This review is from: Language, Proof and Logic (Paperback)

Stanford uses this book in its two introductory philosophy classes (philosophy 57 and phil 159). It is appropriate for students without much exposure to math or computer science, as it is very verbose--much more so than Enderton's _Mathematical Logic_ for example.

Students found the software initially frustrating, and the instructor interface can also be harder to use than it should be, but in the end it is worth it. I handed out a survey at the end of one course and the students generally thought the software was helpful and shouldn't be omitted. Showing the students what to do can be helpful. I just took part of a class period and went through (using laptop+projector) installing the software, building a world, writing a sentence, submitting a few exercises, and getting feeback by email.

Oh, and even if the software [was bad], instructors w/o TAs would probably still love it, as 2/3rds of the exercises can be graded automatically.