This new edition of Understanding Symbolic Logic has given me the opportunity
to make some changes that I hope will clarify various topics, lead to a greater understanding of the material, and generally make for a better book. I have added and updated numerous examples and have provided additional exercises for Units 1,4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 19. More specifically, in Unit 1, I have expanded
the discussion of arguments, adding a section on the distinction between arguments and assertions and augmenting the section on the difference between deductive and inductive arguments.
The book is intended as a comprehensive introduction to symbolic logic. It
presupposes no prior acquaintance with either logic or mathematics, and it includes all the standard topics through relational predicate logic with identity. The book was written in the conviction that any student can master symbolic logic, and it is designed to give the student as much help as possible in attaining that mastery.
The main part of the book is divided into twenty units, each of which has an
introduction and a statement of study objectives so that the student has an
overview of what is to come and knows exactly what is required in order to master
the unit. The explanatory material for each unit is divided into several subsections,
each of which has a specific function and covers one relatively small, clearly defined topic. The clear separation of topics and the division into easily comprehended small "bites" allow the student to master the material step by step without being overwhelmed by an indigestible mass of information.