As a mathematician, I find this surprising - formal logic and probability theory don't usually have much to do with each other. Is the issue that you have trouble with formal mathematical notation?
If you look at the probability book I mentioned it uses an algebraic boolean logic notation and basic set theory to build a formal theory of inference. The first chapter is an condensed introduction to the formal logic and notation used - which is what I was struggling with following some of the more complex equations.
Having read half a book on logic and subsequently learned basic set theory has already helped read the first portion of the probability book. But then I also got really into formal logic, I found it really fascinating as a programmer and I think every person should learn it (with plenty of applications to regular life), so I decided to take a deep dive into it. The venn diagrams visualizations are what helped me the most.
I think one of things that held me back initially was my background as a programmer, it made reading the logic set notation challenging, ie the plus signs meaning disjunctions and primes negation conjunctions.
Ah, I see. That's interesting, I'll see if I can find a bootleg copy and have a read =). Logic is a beautiful, deep subject - all the best with your studies!
I've heard amazing things about it and it hasn't yet disappointed (the little I've read). Worth the $60 I spent on Abebooks for it (used) but the full copy is also on ThePirateBay if you want to see a longer preview.
This reminds me of my wish to see a unified theory (and notation) that encompasses formal logic and probability. On their own, each is lacking. A unified system, for example, in which we have all the tools of first order logic and Bayesian probability would be very powerful.
Having read half a book on logic and subsequently learned basic set theory has already helped read the first portion of the probability book. But then I also got really into formal logic, I found it really fascinating as a programmer and I think every person should learn it (with plenty of applications to regular life), so I decided to take a deep dive into it. The venn diagrams visualizations are what helped me the most.
I think one of things that held me back initially was my background as a programmer, it made reading the logic set notation challenging, ie the plus signs meaning disjunctions and primes negation conjunctions.