FATHOMING FORMAL LOGIC

This text, volume II of a two-volume work, examines in depth the so-called &ldquo,standard&rdquo, predicate logic. Including a foundational lexicon of terms and a detour ,through the classical propositional logic, this volume can be used independently of the first. , As a means toward teasing out theoretical subtleties and negotiating formal and philosophic challenges, this work uses detailed examples and exercises, because of this feature, the text can also ,be used to study formal logic in a rigorous fashion. ,Given its expressive power, predicate logic is deemed as minimally adequate for formalization of such fundamental languages as that of Mathematics and for translations of the ,meanings of English (or other natural-language) ,sentences. ,Laying foundations in this area is key to a technical understanding of deductive reasoning and to honing rigorous critical thinking and problem-solving skills. ,Notable (some of them unusual) features that are ,covered in the present volume include the following