Learn More about the Book
Meaning and Argument is a popular introduction to philosophy of logic and philosophy of language.
- Offers a distinctive philosophical, rather than mathematical, approach to logic
- Concentrates on symbolization and works out all the technical logic with truth tables instead of derivations
- New edition incorporates the insights of half a century's work in philosophy and linguistics on anaphora by Peter Geach, Gareth Evans, Hans Kamp, and Irene Heim among others
- Contains numerous exercises and a corresponding answer key
- An extensive appendix allows readers to explore subjects that go beyond what is usually covered in an introductory logic course
- Features an accompanying website at https: //ruccs.rutgers.edu/ logic/MeaningArgument.html
On the Back Cover
Meaning and Argument shifts introductory logic from the traditional emphasis on proofs to the symbolization of arguments. Another of its distinctive features is that it shows how the need for expressive power and for drawing distinctions forces formal language development.
This volume is ideal as an introduction to formal logic, philosophical logic, and philosophy of language. At each stage of system elaboration and development, the book answers meta-logical questions. Why is a particular formalism needed? What must go into such a formalism and why? These questions engage students in a collective inquiry which allows them to see logical studies as a human enterprise aimed at achieving well-understood goals - clarity and good reasoning.
This second edition extends and systematizes the account of anaphora, including "donkey" anaphora, plural anaphora, and cross-sentential anaphora. It also has additional sections on counter-models and semantics, and contains additional exercises and an updated bibliography.
Review Quotes
1. "In Ernie Lepore's hands grammar comes alive. I recommend this book to all who want to learn what logic is, how to use it, and what it is good for."
2. "Here is logic as it ought to be presented to philosophers, linguists, and anyone else who is interested in how language is organized. In Ernie Lepore's hands grammar comes alive. I recommend this book to all who want to learn what logic is, how to use it, a nd what it is good for." Donald Davidson, University of California Berkeley
"With care, imagination, and infectious enthusiasm, Lepore develops a novel and effective general technique of formalization which complete beginners should be able to grasp and use to deal with virtually any example in a first logic course." Bob Hale, University of Glascow"Meaning and Argument is especially strong on the subtleties of translating natural language into formal language, as a necessary step in the clarification of expression and the evaluation of arguments. The range of natural language constructions surveyed is broader and richer than in any competing intro logic text that I am aware of. As such the book provides a solid and attractive introduction to logic not only for philosophy students but for linguists as well." Richard Larson, The University at Stony Brook
