Simple Type Theory: A Practical Logic for Expressing and Reasoning about Mathematical Ideas

By William M. Farmer

This unique textbook, in contrast to a standard logic text, provides the reader with a logic that can be used in practice to express and reason about mathematical ideas. The book is an introduction to simple type theory, a classical higher-order version of predicate logic that extends first-order logic.

It presents a practice-oriented logic called Alonzo that is based on Alonzo Church's formulation of simple type theory known as Church's type theory. Unlike traditional predicate logics, Alonzo admits undefined expressions. The book illustrates using Alonzo how simple type theory is suited ideally for reasoning about mathematical structures and constructing libraries of mathematical knowledge. For this second edition, more than 400 additions, corrections, and improvements have been made, including a new chapter on inductive sets and types.

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Aimed at students of mathematics and computing at the graduate or upper-undergraduate level, this book is well suited for mathematicians, computing professionals, engineers, and scientists who need a practical logic for expressing and reasoning about mathematical ideas.

William M. Farmer is a Professor in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3031853547
• ISBN13: 9783031853548
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Birkhauser
• Length: 319 Pages