Recent readings
Logic/philosophy books have been arriving. A book aimed at students which is shallow and slapdash (evidently dashed off too fast, without taking enough advice from those who have actually thought hard about the topics). Another book aimed at students which I thought might be apt for mentioning in the Logic Guide: a bit better as far as it goes, but disappointingly thin — covers too much in far too short a compass, so the student reader again isn’t well served. A monograph on a topic that I’m much interested in, written in clotted prose and with a depressing penchant for obscure arm-waving generalities. And a straight logic text recommended to me, which I’ve again looked at with an eye to the Guide. It’s written for computer scientists and maybe later chapters on compsci topics are better; but so far I’m pretty unimpressed. All of these books could have done with an interventionist editor.
OK, I’m not going to name names. Because then I’d need to spend a lot more time making out the critical cases than I really feel inclined to do. Life is too short. But not very cheering or invigorating reading experiences.
Also recently arrived — a reprint of Abbott and Mansfield. If you are of a certain age and were properly brought up, those names will be so familiar, and you’ll probably have a vivid school-days recollection of the green cover of their grammar book. I’m trying to relearn Greek to keep the brain from rusting. And what is cheering is that I find that the core of Abbott and Mansfield looks remarkably familiar! For example, I still have much of the paradigm of λυω by heart, learnt at an age when these things stick. … I knew it would come in useful one day. Better late than never.
And a surprise birthday present from Mrs Logic Matters, Ross King’s new book The Bookseller of Florence. King’s story ranges widely over the intellectual life of renaissance Florence, and it all zips along most enjoyably. So this I can indeed warmly recommend as a fun and enlightening read.
The post Recent readings appeared first on Logic Matters.
