When is a reason for doing or believing something a good reason? Logic′s contribution to answering this question has typically involved expressing English in ′logical form′: that is, using a special notation to bring out logical features more clearly.

The correct identification of logical forms has been held to be important not only to logic but also to philosophy. Bertrand Russell coined the phrase ′philosophical logic′ to describe an approach to philosophical problems: find the correct logical form of the problematic sentences, and the problems vanish.

Mark Sainsbury explains both the detailed problems involved in finding logical forms and also the theoretical underpinnings of the approach. He provides exercises throughout the book, each closely integrated with the text and often an integral part of the text′s development. The result is a genuinely interactive introduction which engages the reader in developing the argument. Each chapter concludes with notes to guide further reading.

Logical Forms examines the formal languages of classical first order logic and modal logic, and some alternatives (free logic, binary and substitutional quantifiers), and in each case takes as the central question: how can natural language best be formalized in this formal language? The approach involves close encounters with issues in the philosophy of logic (for example, the nature of validity) and the philosophy of language (for example, the truth conditions of sentences containing definite descriptions, empty names and verbs of propositional attitude).

This book does not presuppose a knowledge of deductive methods in formal logic and, while many of its readers will have some acquaintance with the field, it will be of immense benefit to those approaching philosophical logic for the first time.

Review:

"This book provides a valuable philosophical accompaniment to the study of elementary formal logic, demonstrating the role of logical analysis in philosophy. The second edition takes account of new work from the last decade, and presents the old material with even greater clarity." Dorothy Edgington, University of Oxford

"Logical Forms is written in a way that makes the dry, abstract problems of philosophical logic accessible. It is one of the best books of its kind and is thoroughly recommended." Francis Moorcroft, University of Hull, THES, 1/6/01

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Logical Forms: An Introduction to Philosophical Logic

Mark Sainsbury

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