Independent study guide to logic for philosophers and mathematicians
Retired Cambridge professor Peter Smith has distilled his experience in teaching philosophers and mathematicians about formal logic into a free, frequently updated (last updated: 2017) study guide to logic, constructed to be easily accessible, with quick-start guides for different kinds of learners, written on the assumption of very little education in either maths or philosophy.
It is perhaps worth pausing to ask whether you, as a budding philosopher,reallydowant or need to pursue your logical studies much further if you havealready worked through a book like mine or Paul Teller's or Nick Smith's. Farbe it from me to put people off doing more logic: perish the thought! But formany philosophical purposes, you might well survive by just reading this:
Eric Steinhart,More Precisely: The Math You Need to Do Philosophy*(Broadview 2009) The author writes: 'The topics presented . . . include:basic set theory; relations and functions; machines; probability; formal semantics; utilitarianism; and infinity. The chapters on sets, relations, andfunctions provide you with all you need to know to apply set theory in anybranch of philosophy. The chapter of machines includes finite state machines, networks of machines, the game of life, and Turing machines. Thechapter on formal semantics includes both extensional semantics, Kripkean possible worlds semantics, and Lewisian counterpart theory. The chapter onprobability covers basic probability, conditional probability, Bayes theorem,and various applications of Bayes theorem in philosophy. The chapter onutilitarianism covers act utilitarianism, applications involving utility andprobability (expected utility), and applications involving possible worldsand utility. The chapters on infinity cover recursive definitions, limits,countable infinity, Cantor's diagonal and power set arguments, uncount-able infinities, the aleph and beth numbers, and definitions by transfiniterecursion.More Preciselyis designed both as a text book and referencebook to meet the needs of upper level undergraduates and graduate stu-dents. It is also useful as a reference book for any philosopher workingtoday.'
Steinhart's book is admirable, and will give many philosophers a handle on sometechnical ideas going well beyond 'baby logic' and which they really should knowjust a little about, without all the hard work of doing a full mathematical logiccourse. What's not to like? It could be enough for you. And then, if there indeedturns out to be some particular area (modal logic, for example) that seems especially germane to your particular philosophical interests, you always can go tothe relevant section of this Guide for more.
Teach Yourself Logic 2017:A Study Guide [Peter Smith/Logic Matters]
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(Image: Eric Gaba, CC-BY-SA; Steve Jurvetson, CC-BY)
