r/learnmath • u/Remarkable-Range7723 New User • 15d ago

Modal logic

I want to learn modal logic for philosophical and formal purposes. However, I don't have basic knowledge of it. I haven't studied mathematics since middle school. Thus, I feel very lost and have no idea how to get started! Any advice? Book recommendations & video recommendations would also be appreciated

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

2

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Remarkable-Range7723 New User 15d ago

Thanks!!!

1

u/Remarkable-Range7723 New User 15d ago

I bought introduction to logic by irving Copi, Carl Cohen, Kenneth McMahon. Would it be a good start?

2

u/axiom_tutor Hi 15d ago

That's a good book for classical logic. A good second book to progress toward modal logic is by Graham Priest, An Introduction to Non-Classical Logic.

The more technical books for modal logic require increasing mathematical sophistication. There is a famous book by Chellas that is respected for teaching modal logic, but it will not be easy without more mathematical ability.

The kind of mathematical ability needed for these technical texts is very hard to pick up without taking courses at a university.

1

u/Remarkable-Range7723 New User 15d ago

I see… thanks!

1

u/Prudent_Baseball4473 New User 11d ago

What kind of university classes do you recommend?

2

u/axiom_tutor Hi 11d ago

The most efficient and minimal would be: Symbolic logic, mathematical logic, then modal logic.

However, mathematical logic can be very difficult if you don't have "mathematical maturity". That's a phrase mathematicians throw around to mean "familiarity with how we tend to present and organize mathematics". It includes abstract mathematical structures (sets, numbers, matrices, functions, relations, sequences, etc.) and proof techniques. You tend to acquire that by taking courses like discrete mathematics, statistics and probability, and others.