This electronic textbook was made for an Introduction to Logic course that focuses more on what is known as symbolic logic. My attempt was to make a textbook that balanced information normally found in other logic textbooks, but with explanations that are normally not found in other logic textbooks (information that is often taken for granted to students being introduced to the material for the first time).

Seeing that this is my first textbook, and hopefully not my last textbook, a note is warranted on my writing style, and the information that this book contains with respect to introducing syllogistic logic, propositional logic, and quantificational logic (also known as predicate logic). As stated earlier, the information presented deals with both simple and complex ideas. Often times, the information being presented is intuitive when it comes to understanding it, but it is also not intuitive. In both cases, I made an attempt to not take for granted the “logical intuition” of the reader so as to not leave “anyone behind” when new information was being introduced. A good balance between logical ideas and their explanations is always warranted so as to not have a logic textbook that simply allows for an activity of mental gymnastics to occur (especially with proofs), but without actually understanding the information. Dealing with the specifics in the different logical systems presented, I went a nontraditional way; especially with the formal proofs. Normally, in logic textbooks, the late Irving Copi’s method is adopted, or the truth-table method is adopted, while I went with Fr. Harry J. Gensler’s, S. J., method as I believe it to be better in explaining each logical system to the reader. I do introduce and explain Copi’s style and method (in Chapter 9), but ultimately defend and use Gensler’s style and method, found in his second and third editions of his book, Introduction to Logic, in Chapter 6 (syllogistic logic), and then Chapters 9 (Propositional Logic), 10, and 11 (Quantificational Logic Parts I and II).

For many of the explanations provided within the textbook (both simple and complex), I owe much gratitude to Ernest Lepore, who along with Sam Cumming, wrote a revised second edition of their textbook, Meaning and Argument: An Introduction to Logic Through Language. Other textbooks, scholarly articles, and notes from colleagues also helped, but in the end, it was mostly Gensler, Lepore, and Cumming’s books that helped guide me in the writing process. It was also Gensler’s logic book and his book on the golden rule, Ethics and the Golden Rule, that helped remind me why I went from being a mathematics major to a philosophy major. Of course, any errors, mistakes, and misinterpretations all belong to me and me only.

I am also in debt to the great people at Great River Learning (GRL), especially Mr. Michael Canevello (Mike), who first contacted me about this project and guided me through the introductory process, and then leading me on to the developing and end stages of the writing process was Mr. Timothy Larson (Tim), who with his guidance (and patience) helped me meet deadlines and also helped with the editing and graphics teams at GRL. Much praise also goes to GRL’s editing and graphics team for helping me place an electronic textbook to my students.

A debt of gratitude must also be expressed to that of my colleagues at Antelope Valley College for providing me with ideas, scholarly articles, and books that were read to better comprehend the material that is found in this book: Dr. Estiphan Panoussi, Dr. Sherri Zhu, and Dr. Claude Gratton (a former professor of mine and now mentor). Once again, all errors, mistakes, and misinterpretations are mine and mine alone. Alongside thanking my philosophical colleagues, a note of being thankful must also be extended to my chair, Mr. Cole McCandless (World Languages and Philosophy), and my dean, Mr. Duane Rumsey (Arts & Humanities), for always being supportive of any project that I take (including this one).

To my previous students in my, “Introduction to Logic,” classes at AVC, and to those that were in my classes while writing this book, I am in debt to for having the courage of asking questions when the previous textbooks were unclear, or I was not clear in class; hence, challenging me to come up with answers to their questions, as well as finding a better way to present the material for the class.

To my friends, Christian, David, and Pierre, for listening to my “philosophical rants” and also for being there when a break was warranted from this fruitful project.

A note of thankfulness goes to my immediate family (my in-laws: Sandra, Agustín, Marta, and Stephany; my brothers: Mr. Tony, and Michael), for always believing in me; but especially to my dear dad, Teo, and my dear mom, Maria who both sacrificed a lot to bring me and my brother (Michael) into this country for a better life, and to have my youngest brother (Anthony) be born in the United States to live a good life.

A special note of remembrance goes to my late tía Nora, who unfortunately passed away last year while working on this textbook. As she helped raise me while in México, I partly owe any success that I have had in my life due to her words of encouragement, guidance, and the part that she played as a role model for me. May she rest in peace.

Finally, I am extremely grateful to my soulmate, my life partner, my beautiful wife, Tatiana Mendoza-Larreynaga. I thank her for being patient with me while working on this project, as well as making herself available to discuss the logical concepts in this textbook. At the same time, also thanking her for her constant words of encouragement toward the end of the tunnel, where only darkness was seen by me. I am truly a better person because of her, and she is the reason that I perceive this world to be a beautiful one. The true meaning of life came about when I met her, and it has only gotten better.