Best way to learn First Order Logic

Question

Hi,

I'm going back to Uni to do an MSc and for one of my target courses I need to know first order logic, inlcuding semantic tableaux and resolution inside out. I don't have an academic background in the subject, so what's a good book, or online course, or online resource to learn this subject? I need clear explanations with lots of questions to work through.

If anyone's got any other general tips, advice or knows of a good tutor to help me learn this subject it'd be appreciated.

Thanks,

Answer 1

Artificial Intelligence - A Modern Approach

Almost half this book is about reasoning and learning in first-order logic. Although an excellent book (I used it in my AI class), but it might be better to ask your soon-to-be professor if he/she can recommend anything that's more in line with what, specifically, you're required to know.

Answer 2

I have slowly accumulated a fairly decent understanding of FOL and automated inference by doing some research on the web. You can browse my del.icio.us bookmarks on the subject. My favorite one as a reference for creating automated inference programs is the CS540 lecture notes one. Also, check out Prolog, learn it, and write some programs in it.

Answer 3

I found a series of lectures on youtube on logic. Followed the first four so far, nice and slow and pretty well explained.

First Lecture

subsequent lectures are in the 'Related Videos' section.

Answer 4

Here's a nice book: http://www.ii.uib.no/~michal/und/i227/book/book.pdf