Thinking about Logic

Steven M Cahn

Fifteen classic essays in the philosophy of logic, providing essential grounding in formal logic as a system of thought and highlighting vital connections to other areas of philosophical study.

Preface I. LOGIC AND KNOWLEDGE 1 What the Tortoise Said to Achilles Lewis Carroll 2 What Achilles Said to the Tortoise W. J. Rees 3 What Achilles Should Have Said to the Tortoise J. F. Thomson Questions II. LOGIC AND DEFINITION 4 The Runabout Inference-Ticket A. N. Prior 5 Roundabout the Runabout Inference-Ticket J. T. Stevenson 6 Tonk, Plonk and Plink Nuel D. Belnap Questions III. LOGIC AND INFERENCE 7 A Counterexample to Modus Ponens Vann McGee 8 Not a Counterexample to Modus Ponens E. J. Lowe 9 Assumptions and the Supposed Counterexamples to Modus Ponens D. E. Over Questions IV. LOGIC AND FREEDOM 10 'It Was to Be' Gilbert Ryle 11 Fatalism Richard Taylor 12 Time, Truth, and Ability Richard Taylor and Steven M. Cahn Questions V. LOGIC AND REALITY 13 The Justification of Deduction Susan Haack 14 The Problem of Counterfactual Conditionals Nelson Goodman 15 On What There Is Willard V. Quine Questions About the Contributors Source Credits