Logic in Games

by Johan van Benthem

A comprehensive examination of the interfaces of logic, computer science, and game theory, drawing on twenty years of research on logic and games. This book draws on ideas from philosophical logic, computational logic, multi-agent systems, and game theory to offer a comprehensive account of logic and games viewed in two complementary ways. It examines the logic of the development of sophisticated modern dynamic logics that model information flow, communication, and interactive structures in games. It also examines logic as the idea that logical activities of reasoning and many related tasks can be viewed in the form of games. In doing so, the book takes up the “intelligent interaction” of agents engaging in competitive or cooperative activities and examines the patterns of strategic behavior that arise. It develops modern logical systems that can analyze information-driven changes in players' knowledge and beliefs, and introduces the “Theory of Play” that emerges from the combination of logic and game theory. This results in a new view of logic itself as an interactive rational activity based on reasoning, perception, and communication that has particular relevance for games. Logic in Games , based on a course taught by the author at Stanford University, the University of Amsterdam, and elsewhere, can be used in advanced seminars and as a resource for researchers.

Genres: Logic, Philosophy

568 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2014

About the author

This author also uses these pen names:

J. Van Benthem
J.F.A.K. van Benthem

Reviews

[Jonathon Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

More symbolic-heavy than I really care for right now. I’m sure it is useful for its intended purpose, but as a way of thinking about games of logic (and vice versa) it wasn’t that compelling. I did find the section about thinking about opponents who do not follow the rational path to be interesting, though - how we should behave given the seeming irrational behavior is indeed an intriguing question.