Introduction to Relation Algebras

Steven Givant is a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Mills College, California. As a long-term collaborator of Alfred Tarski—one of the great logicians—Givant has been involved first-hand in the development of the field of relation algebras since the 1970s. His previous books include Duality Theories for Boolean Algebras with Operators (Springer, 2014), Introduction to Boolean Algebras, with Paul Halmos (Springer, 2009), Logic as Algebra, with Paul Halmos (MAA, 1998), and A Formalization of Set Theory without Variables, with Alfred Tarski (AMS, 1987). He was also coeditor, with Ralph McKenzie, of Alfred Tarski's Collected Papers: Vol 1-4 (Birkhäuser, 1986).

“The intended audience of the book includes both graduate students and professionals in logic and philosophy, in computer science and, of course, in various mathematical disciplines. … The book can be used for independent study, as it is self-contained, the basic definitions are carefully given, the goals in every section are largely explained, and the principal results are given full proofs. It will be useful also as a reference book on relation algebras.” (Jānis Cīrulis, zbMATH 1426.03001, 2020)

• Preface.- Introduction.- 1. The calculus of relations.- 2. Relation algebras.- 3. Examples of relation algebras.- 4. Arithmetic.- 5. Special elements.- 6. Subalgebras.- 7. Homomorphisms.- 8. Ideals and quotients.- 9. Simple algebras.- 10. Relativizations.- 11. Direct products.- 12. Subdirect products.- 13. Minimal relation algebras.- References.- Index.