The Logic of Time: A Model-Theoretic Investigation into the Varieties of Temporal Ontology and Temporal Discourse / Edition 2

by Johan van Benthem

Overview

The subject of Time has a wide intellectual appeal across different dis- ciplines. This has shown in the variety of reactions received from readers of the first edition of the present Book. Many have reacted to issues raised in its philosophical discussions, while some have even solved a number of the open technical questions raised in the logical elaboration of the latter. These results will be recorded below, at a more convenient place. In the seven years after the first publication, there have been some noticeable newer developments in the logical study of Time and temporal expressions. As far as Temporal Logic proper is concerned, it seems fair to say that these amount to an increase in coverage and sophistication, rather than further break-through innovation. In fact, perhaps the most significant sources of new activity have been the applied areas of Linguistics and Computer Science (including Artificial Intelligence), where many intriguing new ideas have appeared presenting further challenges to temporal logic. Now, since this Book has a rather tight composition, it would have been difficult to interpolate this new material without endangering intelligibility.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789048140824
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	12/09/2010
Series:	Synthese Library , #156
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 2nd ed. 1991
Pages:	290
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.78(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Professor Dr J.F.A.K. van Benthem has received the 1996 Spinoza Award, an annual award to honour outstanding scientific merit and to stimulate innovative future research.

from the jury report:
'Van Benthem has positioned logic as an interdisciplinary science par excellence ... It is through his work that logic has acquired a bridge-function between alpha and gamma sciences on the one side and beta sciences on the other ... Van Benthem is a stimulating and innovative researcher, which explains his great attraction to young researchers. Under his inspirational guidance 38 promovendi from the Netherlands and abroad have finished their theses. In view of Van Benthem's innovative powers and the high level of his research, a number of initiatives are to be expected from him that will further strengthen the Dutch position of logic, more especially so in connection with the formal study of natural language.'

Table of Contents

I / Temporal Ontology.- I.1. / Primitive Notions.- I.2. / Points.- I.3. / Periods.- I.4. / Points and Periods.- I.5. / Events.- II / Temporal Discourse.- II.1. / Choice of Languages.- II.2. / Instant Tense Logic.- II.3. / Extended Tense Logic.- II.4. / Point Talk and Period Talk.- Appendix A / On Space.- Notes.- List of Important Principles.- Index of Names.- Index of Subjects.- Appendix “Sept Ans Après”.- Additional References.

Editorial Reviews

From reviews of the first edition:
'Overall this is an admirable work. I believe it will change and enrich the field.'
Steven Kuhn, Journal of Symbolic Logic, 52 (3) (1987)
'...the book...will be most useful to anyone, newcomer or expert, with an interest in the logic of time.'
John Burgess, Journal of Philosophical Logic, 13 (3) (1984)

From the Publisher