Logic:  A Contemporary Introduction
       Donald P. Goodman III
       
       Logic is beyond doubt among the most basic topics of
       intellectual inquiry.  One of the trivium of liberal
       arts, which had to be studied before one reached the
       quadrivium (which itself had to be studied before one
       could proceed to the really serious topics, like
       philosophy), logic was once a bedrock subject, a necessary
       foundation before any intellectual path could be pursued.  Now,
       sadly, it is neglected; indeed, almost completely
       ignored.
       
       This little book aims to provide just such an
       introduction:  a foundational introduction, giving the
       necessary basics of logic without delving too deeply into
       the other, deeper subjects adjacent to it.  It covers only
       the most superficial aspects of grammar and
       rhetoric (the other two subjects of the
       trivium), but goes through all the necessary topics
       of logical inquiry, allowing one to proceed to deeper
       subjects at will.  Simple apprehension; judgment and types
       of propositions; deductive reasoning and the syllogism; and
       inductive reasoning, along with its most prominent types,
       are all reviewed in sufficient depth to permit real
       understanding and application, but without unnecessary
       forays into adjacent topics to avoid drowning the
       reader.
       
       Logic, in simple and approachable language, is the only
       thing this book attempts to provide.
       
       The digital version contains links and a full set of
       bookmarks for easy use; both it and the print edition have a
       full set of exercises regarding propositions and syllogisms,
       to help the student flex his muscles on some real issues.
       It also describes prominent fallacies and how to avoid them,
       from the more esoteric ones (like illicit process and
       undistributed middles) to the famous (like begging the
       question and argumentum ad hominem).
       
       A great introduction for those who were not given logic
       as a formal subject, but really would like to grasp the
       foundations of rational thought.
       
 (HTM) Purchase in Print
 (HTM) PDF (Free)
 (HTM) HTML (Free)