The Essence of Logic

Rating:
Summary: excellent logic intro for computer science
Review: I found this book to be an excellent introduction to logic as applied to artificial intelligence. The book first introduces the basics of propositional calculus and truth tables. This allows a reader to become familiar with the material before the axiomatic approach to logic is introduced in a later chapter. The axiomatic system chosen for propositional calculus is different than the one used by Burris in his book (Logic for Mathematics and Computer Science). Burris has the axiom schema of (A and not A). Kelly uses a different set. Kelly's description is very good and he gives many examples. Also, he covers semantic tableaux in good detail (Schaum's outline on logic also covers semantic tableaus, but a different name is given). Finally, he introduces resolution which serves as the basis for many automated reasoning programs and Prolog !!!

The second half of the book repeats the same approach for predicate calculus (introduction, axiomatic approach, semantic tableaux, and resolution). Again, the description is clear and has many examples.

Overall, an excellent book for learning logic from an AI point-of-view.