Modal Logic

A 2001 graduate text on modal logic, a field which has caught the attention of computer scientists, economists and computational linguists.

Patrick Blackburn (Author), Maarten de Rijke (Author), Yde Venema (Author)

9780521527149, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 August 2002

578 pages, 20 b/w illus.
22.6 x 15.6 x 3 cm, 0.89 kg

'… this is an excellent book, targeting a broad audience including logicians, computer scientists, mathematicians and philosophers. It can serve very well both as a graduate textbook, taking a beginner with sufficient logical maturity and interest in the subject well into the expert level, and as a state-of-the-art reference on the main aspects, results, methods, and literature on contemporary modal logic for the experienced researchers. And, much of it can be read just for fun.' Studia Logica

This is an advanced 2001 textbook on modal logic, a field which caught the attention of computer scientists in the late 1970s. Researchers in areas ranging from economics to computational linguistics have since realised its worth. The book is for novices and for more experienced readers, with two distinct tracks clearly signposted at the start of each chapter. The development is mathematical; prior acquaintance with first-order logic and its semantics is assumed, and familiarity with the basic mathematical notions of set theory is required. The authors focus on the use of modal languages as tools to analyze the properties of relational structures, including their algorithmic and algebraic aspects, and applications to issues in logic and computer science such as completeness, computability and complexity are considered. Three appendices supply basic background information and numerous exercises are provided. Ideal for anyone wanting to learn modern modal logic.

1. Basic concepts
2. Models
3. Frames
4. Completeness
5. Algebras and general frames
6. Computability and complexity
7. Extended modal logic.

Subject Areas: Mathematical theory of computation [UYA], Mathematical foundations [PBC], Philosophy of mathematics [PBB]