One True Logic: A Monist Manifesto

Logical monism is the claim that there is a single correct logic, the 'one true logic' of our title.

The view has evident appeal, as it reflects assumptions made in ordinary reasoning as well as in mathematics, the sciences, and the law. In all these spheres, we tend to believe that there are determinate facts about the validity of arguments. Despite its evident appeal, however, logical monism must meet two challenges. The first is the challenge of logical pluralism, according to which there is more than one correct logic. The second challenge is to determine which form of logical monism is the correct one.

One True Logic is the first monograph to explicitly articulate a version of logical monism and defend it against the first challenge. It provides a critical overview of the monism vs pluralism debate and argues for the former. It also responds to the second challenge by defending a particular monism, based on a highly infinitary logic. It breaks new ground on a number of fronts and unifies disparate discussions in the philosophical and logical literature. In particular, it generalizes the Tarski-Sher criterion of logicality, provides a novel defense of this generalization, offers a clear new argument for the logicality of infinitary logic, and replies to recent pluralist arguments.

Author: Owen Griffiths, A. C. Paseau
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 10/31/2022
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.39h x 6.32w x 0.78d
ISBN: 9780198829713

Review Citation(s):
Choice 07/01/2023

About the Author
Owen Griffiths is a philosopher of logic and language and a lecturer at the University College London and the University of Cambridge. He is the author of several research articles and chapters in collected volumes and the winner of a 2022 Pilkington Prize for outstanding teaching at the University of Cambridge.

A. C. Paseau is the Stuart Hampshire Fellow at Wadham College and Professor of Mathematical Philosophy at the University of Oxford. Author of more than 50 research articles and reviews, he has also edited the 5-volume anthology Philosophy of Mathematics (Routledge 2017) and co-edited the collection Mathematical Knowledge (OUP 2007).