This introduction to first-order logic clearly works out the role of first-order logic in the foundations of mathematics, particularly the two basic questions of the range of the axiomatic method and of theorem-proving by machines. It covers several advanced topics not commonly treated in introductory texts, such as Fraïssé's characterization of elementary equivalence, Lindström's theorem on the maximality of first-order logic, and the fundamentals of logic programming.

Heinz-Dieter Ebbinghaus is Professor Emeritus at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Freiburg. His work spans fields in logic, such as model theory and set theory, and includes historical aspects.Jörg Flum is Professor Emeritus at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Freiburg. His research interests include mathematical logic, finite model theory, and parameterized complexity theory. Wolfgang Thomas is Professor Emeritus at the Computer Science Department of RWTH Aachen University. His research interests focus on logic in computer science, in particular logical aspects of automata theory.