Meaning and Argument: An Introduction to the Logic of Natural Language (Philosophy: The Big Questions) - Tapa dura

"Meaning and Argument is an excellent logic textbook that not only introduces students to the techniques of English symbolization and the truth-tree method, but it also to a fascinating array of topics in linguistic syntax and semantics, including logical form, anaphora, adverbial modification, descriptions, among others. My first-year logic students have enjoyed Lepore's book immensely and have found it to be very helpful and accessible. This new and revised edition will be even more beneficial for students and instructors." Ray Elugardo, University of Oklahoma "Here is logic as it ought to be presented to philosophers, linguists, and anyone else who is interested in how language is organized. In Ernie Lepore's hands grammar comes alive. I recommend this book to all who want to learn what logic is, how to use it, and what it is good for." Donald Davidson, University of California at Berkeley "With care, imagination, and infectious enthusiasm, Lepore develops a novel and effective general technique of formalization which complete beginners should be able to grasp and use to deal with virtually any example in a first logic course." Bob Hale, University of Glasgow "This is a very nice and very elementary introduction to logic with emphasis on the translation from natural language formulations into their corresponding versions within a formalized language."Zentralblatt MATH

"Meaning and Argument" shifts introductory logic from the traditional emphasis on proofs to the symbolization of arguments. Another distinctive feature of this book is that it shows how the need for expressive power and for drawing distinctions forces formal language development. At each stage of system elaboration and development, the book answers metalogical questions: Why is a particular formalism needed? What must go into such a formalism and why? These questions engage students in a collective inquiry which allows them to see logical studies as a human enterprise aimed at achieving well-understood purposes - clarity and good reasoning. This volume is ideal as an introduction to formal logic, philosophical logic, and philosophy of language.