A New Introduction to Modal Logic

by G.E. Hughes, M.J. Cresswell

This long-awaited book replaces Hughes and Cresswell's two classic studies of modal An Introduction to Modal Logic and A Companion to Modal Logic.

A New Introduction to Modal Logic is an entirely new work, completely re-written by the authors. They have incorporated all the new developments that have taken place since 1968 in both modal propositional logic and modal predicate logic, without sacrificing the clarity of exposition and approachability that were essential features of their earlier works.

The book takes readers from the most basic systems of modal propositional logic right up to systems of modal predicate with identity. It covers both technical developments such as completeness and incompleteness, and finite and infinite models, and their philosophical applications, especially in the area of modal predicate logic.

Genres: Logic, Philosophy, Linguistics, Mathematics, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 1995

Reviews

[Misteryfan78 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked my logic teacher to recommend me some books about modal logic because I'm interested in the subject. He told me to read this one, mostly because is one of the most complete introductions to modal logic and also because it's not hard to get into (maybe you will need some basics in propositional logic and set theory). The first two sections are about propositional modal logic and the last section is about first-order modal logic. The book is really well written and accomplishes its goal (introduce the reader to the basics of modal logic). Some of the problems I have with the text are the next ones:
1. The notation is old (the book uses L for necessity and M for possibility instead of the classic box for necessity and diamond for possibility)
2. The use of axiomatic deduction. I study logic with natural deduction so it was weird to me to get into axiomatic systems (the book has a section on modal natural deduction but it's very strange).
3. Some of the exercises are really REALLY hard (there is a chapter with solutions to some exercises, but they are mostly hints on how to solve the exercises).
Anyway, these problems are mostly personal and don't affect the whole book. So I recommend this book to anyone interested in modal logic.

[Les Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

At one times there really was only 'Hughes and Cresswell' - their book: An Introduction to Modal Logic and later their Companion. There's quite a few good books these days. But, this New Introduction is new!

[Franco]

Just review...