The Logic Café is courseware for elementary symbolic logic. What sets it apart from other textbooks or software for logic is
- the degree of integration between text and computer program
- it's availability on the web, and
- it's use as a "Virtual TA", the Café actively works with you as you learn logic
The textbook you are now reading is also part computer program to advise and quiz you as you read. You, the student, should spend most of your "reading" time actually doing exercises in logic. The best way to learn logic is by doing.
The reading — found in tutorials — is short compared to a traditional logic text. It's cut to the essentials so you can get quickly to the exercises — or are doing the exercises as part of the tutorial. Still, the reading is essential. (There is also a reference manual to be printed out and read at your convenience. But the tutorials come first!)
Begin at the beginning. The first tutorial, though elementary, is an introduction to how you will be asked to think about logic (answer: symbolically) and how this text works (answer: interactively—this tutorial will show you how to interact).
The name 'Logic Café' comes from the basic programming languages that underlie this logic courseware: Java and JavaScript. Because the web pages in this site are meant to promote active learning, we utilize a version of these languages providing dynamic web pages (or 'DHTML'.) Virtually all web pages in the Logic Café make some use of DHTML. You will need to use a browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera that can handle DHTML. And you'll need to allow Flash, cookies, and pop-ups.)
If you are not already familiar with how to use your browser, all you'll need to do is to spend a few minutes playing with your machine. Use the mouse (or other pointing device) to move the arrow (or other "mouse pointer") around the browser "window". To "click", use the (left) mouse button and press on a "link" (the colored text on most people's computer that looks like this.) Now, move about clicking on links and the buttons at the top (like the "back" button which returns you to a previous page.) This time will be well spent: you'll use the browser throughout this class and probably through the rest of your life. For more guidance, go to the help window for those not used to browsing the Web.
Now, just click on "Chapter One: Basic Concepts" to get started. You'll find this on the left part of the main Café pages.