Mathematical Logic Av Heinz-Dieter Ebbinghaus, Joerg Flum, Wolfgang Thomas

This textbook introduces first-order logic and its role in the foundations of mathematics by examining fundamental questions. What is a mathematical proof? How can mathematical proofs be justified? Are there limitations to provability? To what extent can machines carry out mathematical proofs? In answering these questions, this textbook explores the capabilities and limitations of algorithms and proof methods in mathematics and computer science. The chapters are carefully organized, featuring complete proofs and numerous examples throughout. Beginning with motivating examples, the book goes on to present the syntax and semantics of first-order logic. After providing a sequent calculus for this logic, a Henkin-type proof of the completeness theorem is given. These introductory chapters prepare the reader for the advanced topics that follow, such as Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems, Trakhtenbrot's undecidability theorem, Lindström's theorems on the maximality of first-order logic, and