An Introduction to Logic

Front Cover
Hackett Publishing, Jan 1, 1993 - Philosophy - 232 pages

Written for independent study and suitable for an introductory course in logic, this classic text combines a sound presentation of logic with effective pedagogy and illustrates the role of logic in many areas of humanistic and scientific thought. Cohen and Nagel's elegant integration of the history of philosophy, natural science, and mathematics helps earn this work its distinguished reputation.

 

Contents

THE NATURE OF A LOGICAL OR MATHEMATICAL
vii
The Function of Axioms
129
Structural Identity or Isomorphism
137
The Independence and Consistency of Axioms
143
PROBABLE INFERENCE
151
The Mathematics or Calculus of Probability
158
Interpretations of Probability
164
SOME PROBLEMS OF LOGIC
173
The Laws of Thought
181
The Basis of Logical Principles in the Nature of Things
190
Exercises
200
Bibliography of Works Cited
221
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (1993)

Morris Raphael Cohen, who taught philosophy at the City College of New York and who began life as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, was one of the foremost Jewish intellectuals in America during the first half of the twentieth century. He expounded a philosophy of rationalism and realism in step with contemporary science and relevant to the social issues of his times and, through his books and teaching, had a widespread influence. His book, Reason and Nature (1931), offered a clear exposition and critique of the central concepts in science and sought to demonstrate that the scientific method required rational elements (mathematics and formal logic) no less than experimental procedures that appealed to sense experience. John Corcoran has worked as an entertainment reporter, critic & feature reporter in TV stations in Washington, DC, Boston & Los Angeles, earning Emmys in each market. He has been a radio talk show host, after-dinner speaker, freelance writer, columnist & author. He wants you to know he is not Johnnie Cochran the lawyer, or John Cochran the network newscaster.

Bibliographic information