Mathematical Logic, Revised Edition (Paperback)

~ W. V. Quine (Author) "MATHEMATICAL logic differs from the traditional formal logic so markedly in method, and so far surpasses it in power and subtlety, as to be generally..." (more)
Key Phrases: tautologous forms, framed ingredient, atomic logical formula, New Foundations, Logistical Approach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent systematic presentation of mathematical logic...Because it is a clear, exact, and exhaustive treatment of the subject, Professor Quine's book should serve well as a text in a course on mathematical logic.
--Morton G. White (Philosophical Review )

Combines exemplary clarity and precision with an unusual vividness and originality in style which actually makes the study of the work a fascinating adventure.
--Carl G. Hempel (Philosophic Abstracts )

Every section of this book provides evidence of rare skill, both in research and communication; it deserves to be read and read again by all who have a serious interest in mathematical logic.
--Max Black (Mind )

About the Author

W. V. Quine was Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy, Harvard University. He wrote twenty-one books, thirteen of them published by Harvard University Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; Revised edition (April 15, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674554515
• ISBN-13: 978-0674554511
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #487,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good but be aware of omissions, April 14, 2003

By	galloamericanus "galloamericanus" (Podunk, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This book is indeed much shorter than Principia, mainly because it is derived for lecture notes for a 1 semester PhD course. It is also a lot clearer than PM. But the notation is largely the same, which makes for hard reading if your are under 50. Quine's proof format doesn't take up much space, but has always eluded me. This book contains the best treatment of truth functional and quantificational logic prior to natural deduction and truth trees.

I like the set theory of this book, but I warn you that it is very nonstandard. Even ardent lovers of Quine's NF theory hate
the ML theory of this book.

The weakness of this book is its treatment of metatheory:
consistency, completeness, decidability, categoricity. The treatment of Godel's incompleteness is detailed and highly original (altho' it owes more to Tarski than to Godel). But it is very difficult, and Smullyan (1991) is much better.
Quine also had no clue re model theory or recursion.

I respect the historical remarks a lot. Just one big omission: Quine, like nearly everyone of his generation, missed that
math logic as we know and love it does not descend from Frege, but from an 1885 article by C S Peirce.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Depth Look at Logic, November 30, 1998

By A Customer

Try this book when you know a bit about the basics of logic. The descriptions are much more lucid than those in Principia, even if the ideas are less earthshattering for there time. Quine, as he always does, gives a masterful, detailed look at logic. If you are a fan of logic and the foundations of math, this book is not to be missed.