Introduction to Mathematical Logic, Fourth Edition

The first chapter starts with truth tables and ends with a completeness proof of a given formal system for propositional logic and an independence proof of the axioms of this system. Chapter Two is the study of quantification theory. Topics include quantificational completeness, Hilbert's Second Epsilon-Theorem, various topics from model theory, such as compactness and Lowenheim-Skolem Theorems, theorems on submodels and ultrafilters and non-standard analysis. The new fourth edition adds a very nice section on interpretations of quantification theory that allow the empty domain. Chapter Three presents an axiom system for number theory, recursive functions and proves (among other theorems) the famous Godel Incompleteness theorems, Tarski's indefinability of Truth Theorem and Church's Undecidability Theorem. Chapter Four is devoted to elementary set theory. Topics include an axiom system for set theory, ordinal and cardinal numbers, the axiom of choice and regularity, and alternative axiom systems of set theory. The new fourth edition includes an axiom system with urelements, something rarely presented, and an interesting note on the historical application of such a system in the construction of the first independence proof of the axiom of choice. The fifth chapter is the study of computability. The chapter begins with the notion of an algorithm and Turing Machines and builds up to the Kleene-Mostowski Hierarchy. The new fourth edition concludes with an excellent appendix on second-order logic.

I have used Mendelson's book to teach a one-semester course to advanced undergraduate and graduate students with great success. Such a course is centered on the first three chapters, omitting from Chapter Two anything beyond quantificational completeness. If time permits, I recommend either the rest of Chapter Two, the beginning of Chapter Five, or the appendix on second-order logic. Set theory, the content of Chapter Three, is usually offered as a separate course.


twisted pants unleashed on men   August 9, 2006
Michael De (St Andrews, Scotland)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is one of the more popular introductory textbooks on mathematical logic, with Enderton's being its biggest competitor. I prefer Mendelson's for its breadth of material and the choice of proofs he uses, which are generally the most intuitive (e.g. Kalmar's for the completeness of the propositional calculus). This is not to say that they are always constructive, as they many of them are in the older texts (e.g. Kleene, Introduction to Metamathemaitcs).

The exercises are thoughtfully chosen. There's a good range of difficulty and a good portion of the answers can be found in the back. Difficult questions are indicated to the reader.

Out of all the mathematical logic texts I have (which are quite a few in number), this is the most oft-referred-to.


Wonderful at the second glance.   September 22, 2005
Agahi Sama (Stockholm, Sweden)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Mendelson's Introduction to Mathematical Logic was the textbook for a logic-course I took a couple of years ago. At the time I did not like the book at all. It seemed too difficult and so typographically ugly that I thought I would never use it. Things have changed though. Now, I keep it close at hand on my desk and use it almost every day. Technical questions that used to require a trip to the library and several different books to answer, can usually be resolved by a look in Mendelson's book. It's wonderfully rich and clear! I still don't find everything easy but that's because the material isn't easy and so not something Mendelson can be blamed for. I do find the typography ugly and at times annoying, but that's a small price to pay for a presentation as rigorous and detailed as Mendelson's.
So in summary: it's not the ideal book for the complete newcomer, but once you get past the initial hurdle it's a must read.


Great Book on Logic and Meta-theory   February 22, 2000
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

This book has come in handy. Although it is a bit difficult, it is, relative to other books on mathematical logic, very accessible. (The learning of logic always takes dedicated time!). The introduction has a summary of certain set-theoretic notions, etc., and the book covers First-Order propositional calculus and Quantifier-predicate calculus, as well as Second-Order logic, and a good deal of Meta-theory to show completeness and soundness, etc. I used this book as a side-reference studies and it helped significantly.