Overview

Classical logic – which studies the structural features of purported claims of fact – and modal logic – which studies relations of necessity and possibility – are different but complementary areas of logical thought. In this lively and accessible textbook, Adam Bjorndahl provides a comprehensive and unified introduction to the two subjects, treating them with the same level of rigour and detail and showing how they fit together. The core material appears in the main text, with hundreds of supplemental examples, comments, clarifications, and connections presented throughout in easy-to-read sidenotes, giving the book a distinct conversational feel. A detailed, multi-part appendix covers important background mathematical material that some students may lack, such as induction or the concept of countable infinity. A fully self-contained learning resource, this book will be ideal for a semester-long upper-level university course on either or both of the topics.

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9781009450690

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Reviews

'A wonderful introduction both to basic propositional and first-order logic, and to modal logic. It goes all the way from the basic definitions to soundness and completeness results for all the logics considered. At the end, there is also a brief introduction to topological semantics for modal logic. The many exercises, most of which have solutions provided, enable the reader to grapple with the complexities of the material. I strongly recommend the book, both to those teaching introductory courses in logic and modal logic, and to students who are willing to try to learn the material on their own.' Joe Halpern, Cornell University 'Bjorndahl has produced a fantastic text that artfully tows the challenging line between covering core material from the canons of formal logic – soundness and completeness, expressivity, etc. – and inviting the reader to explore the most recent trends and advances in the subject's applications to epistemology and the analysis of knowledge. Especially innovative are the helpful side comments throughout the text: additional points and reminders one is often looking for when learning new material. Also distinctive is the gentle introduction to topology at the end, elegantly and easily following the author's presentation of logic. I would recommend this text to any beginner wanting to accelerate from the basics to key elements of the cutting edge.' Thomas Icard, Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University

Author Information

Adam Bjorndahl is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. He has published numerous articles in journals including The Review of Symbolic Logic, Res Philosophica, and Studia Logica.

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