Mathematical Logic: A First Course (Dover Books on Mathematics) [Paperback]

Joel W. Robbin (Author), Mathematics (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Books on Mathematics | Publication Date: July 7, 2006

Suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this self-contained text will appeal to readers from diverse fields and varying backgrounds — including mathematics, philosophy, linguistics, computer science, and engineering. Topics include 1st-order recursive arithmetic, 1st- and 2nd-order logic, and the arithmetization of syntax. Numerous exercises; some solutions. 1969 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048645018X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486450186
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've worked throught the first two chapters, July 18, 2007

By 

Scabby Babbage (New Brunswick, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematical Logic: A First Course (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

There are 5 chapters in total, of which I've worked through the first two on my own. These take you clearly through the metatheory of propositional and predicate calculus. I'm not a mathematician, so I was looking for something clear. I got this from the library along with several others including Enderton and Mendelsohn, and this was the one I ended up working with because it struck me as the clearest. Robbin does a good job of getting to the essentials without getting bogged down in a mass of theorem proving, but at the same time doesn't skip anything that you really need to know. This is a good, fast intro to the subject.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My second favorite of several logic texts I've read, April 19, 2011

By 

Scott (Dubuque, IA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mathematical Logic: A First Course (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

I read all of the first three chapters, most of chapter 4 and about half of chapter 6 in 2009 and this concise and for me clear text is my second favorite, as of 1Dec11. First, I like Robbin's full formation rules and axiomatics for each level of logic he describes and that he both fully explained and didn't overdo dot notation for elimination of parentheses. Then also, he used implication as his only logical connective, and primarily used universal quantification in his first and second order logics, both of which were nicely simplifying. Interestingly, a falsity sign 'f' was used instead of a 'not' unary connective, and this worked naturally with that use of implication only. Plus there were a number of helpful insights stated that added a nice dimension to this book. Chapter 2 on First-Order Logic and chapter 3 on First-Order Recursive Arithmetic were my favorites in this book.

The six chapters are: 1) The Propositional Calculus / 2) First-Order Logic / 3) First-Order Recursive Arithmetic / 4) Arithmetization of Syntax / 5) The Incompleteness Theorems and Other Applications of the Liar Paradox / 6) Second-Order Logic + four appendices on related subjects and answers to selected exercises.

My new favorite book ever, fully read in Nov11 is at the following link. This new favorite dethroned the currently reviewed book by Robbin from favorite to second favorite logic text: Logic for Computer Scientists (Modern Birkhäuser Classics)

I might in 2012 reread this book by Joel Robbin again, starting over with reading chapters 2 and 3, and trying to finish chapters 4 and 6 this time, likely again not reading chapter 5. I think I owe this great book that by now.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Mathematical Logic Text, February 15, 2008

By 

Jianguo Jiang "Jianguo Jiang" (Dalian, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematical Logic: A First Course (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

This book is suitable for advanced undergradutes and graduate students for learning mathematical logic.It contains a wide selection of exercises. In the back of the book, the author gave answers to selected exercises. But I think the notational conventions is a little of old, not stylish. I don't like this kind of notational convensions in the book.