Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences)

A revolutionary, introductory text for courses on modern logic. While the basic rudiments of formal and informal logical are all clearly described here, it also focuses students on the real world, where the discipline of logic adds substance and meaning to all kinds of human discourse. Everything from puzzles, paradoxes, and mathematical proofs, to campaign debate excerpts, government regulations, and cartoons are used to show how logic is put to work by philosophers, mathematicians, advertisers, computer scientists, politicians, and others. As the book alternately discusses, instructs, questions, teases, and challenges, readers will find themselves absorbing the fundamentals of the discipline, becoming fluent in the language of logic, understanding how logic works in the real world, and enjoying logic's ability to entertain, surprise, subvert, and enlighten.

Sweet Reason is an introductory text for courses on modern logic unlike any other. The basic rudiments of formal and informal logic are here, all clearly described. But Tom and Jim go much further. They focus students on the real world, where the discipline of logic adds substance and meaning to all kinds of human discourse. Everything from puzzles, paradoxes, and mathematical proofs to campaign debate excerpts, government regulations, and cartoons are used to show how logic is put to work by philosophers, mathematicians, advertisers, computer scientists, politicians, and others. As the book alternately discusses, instructs, questions, teases, and challenges, readers will find themselves absorbing the fundamentals of the discipline; becoming fluent in the language of logic; understanding how logic works in the real world; and enjoying logic's ability to entertain, surprise, subvert, and enlighten.