Logic
PHIL 190 Spring 2016 MWF 12:45 PM – 1:50 PM
Professor Leonard Finkelman
[email protected] T.J. Day Hall room 308 Course Information
Logic guides all reasoning. This course introduces students to the rules and concepts underlying the most common forms of logic. Students will learn how logic can be used to analyze arguments and improve discourse.
Learning outcomes Courses with QR designation are designed to develop the student’s ability to do the following: 1. Frame contextual questions using mathematical representation. 2. Apply models to deduce consequences or make predictions. 3. Communicate quantitative arguments using clear prose. 4. Critique quantitative arguments with respect to assumptions, constraints, and logical coherence. In this particular course these goals will be met in the following ways, respectively: 1. Students will learn the formal structure of arguments and how that formal structure is applied to common language. 2. In order to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of different arguments, students will learn rules of inference and other formal mechanics of argumentation. 3. To facilitate the application of formal logic to common language, students will learn how to represent common language terms formally as well as how to read and “translate” formal statements. 4. As part of understanding the structure and rules of formal logic, students will become familiar with the underlying historical and philosophical concepts from which formal logic developed.
Textbook The following textbook is required. This text and other supplemental readings can be found on the class Blackboard page. • Magnus, P.D. (2014). For All X: An Introduction to Formal Logic. Online: www.fecundity.com/logic.
Disability services statement Students with disabilities are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are a student with a disability and feel you may require academic accommodations please contact Learning Support Services (LSS), as early as possible to request accommodation for your disability. The timeliness of your request will allow LSS to promptly arrange the details of your support. LSS is located in Melrose Hall 020 (503-883-2562). We also encourage students to communicate with faculty about their accommodations.
Privacy statement Under the Federal Educational Rights and Protection Act (FERPA), all students have the right to inspect and review their educational records and to prevent the release of those records to other individuals, except where permitted by law. Students who wish to share their records with a third party must submit a signed release form. For more information, please visit the Registrar in Melrose Hall 012.
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Course Policies Grading Students may score up to 200 points through completion of the following tasks: o Daily assessment exercises 45 points o Weekly assessment exercises 130 points o Final project (see Blackboard) 25 points Students must earn at least 130 points to pass. The distribution of passing grades will be determined by a class curve.
Attendance All students are expected to attend class each day. Students are permitted four (4) excused absences. Students absent five or more times, for any reason, will fail the course. Additionally, students in attendance will receive a point of extra credit on any day that more than 20% of the class is absent.
Office hours Students are (more or less) guaranteed to find me in my office during scheduled office hours. I regularly offer these hours at the following times: • Tuesdays 10:00am – 11:30am & 2:00pm – 6:00pm • Wednesdays 3:30pm – 5:30pm • Thursdays 2:00pm – 6:00pm All changes to my office hours will be announced both via e-mail and in class at the earliest opportunity. Outside of my regular office hours, students may schedule special appointments. All special appointments must be made with 48 hours’ notice and, if necessary, cancelled no later than six hours prior to the appointment. Any student absent from a special appointment may not be allowed to make another. Students who visit during office hours should use the notepad hanging outside my door to write down their thoughts before coming in. If I am out of the office, students may use the dry-erase board to leave a message.
Recording Devices
Students must obtain the instructor’s permission before recording any part of a class meeting. Exceptions may be made at the request of LSS. Recordings may be protected under FERPA and can only be released with permission from all other students enrolled in the class (see Privacy statement above).
Mobile Devices Mobile devices can be useful for resolving non-philosophical debates. I therefore encourage students to keep their mobile devices out during class. These devices should be set to “Do Not Disturb” or some equivalent mode. (“Silent” is not equivalent to “Do Not Disturb” because “silent” phones vibrate and make disturbing noises.) The student’s inappropriate use of a mobile device in class may result in the student being marked absent for the lecture. A student’s taking a strange interest in their lap may be judged as inappropriate use of a mobile device. Nothing that happens in this class should inspire much interest in the student’s lap.
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E-mail All communication between instructors and students should be conducted with the appropriate professionalism and courtesy. The e-mails that you send should include a salutation addressed to your professor, identification of your class, and a signature with your name. This is the high price of living in a society. I will respond to all appropriate e-mails within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends (exceptions will be discussed ahead of time). E-mails may be deemed inappropriate if they contain disrespectful language and content or text/net speak.
Classroom Teams Students will be divided into seven teams of 3–5 students each. All students must sit with their assigned teams and will be marked absent for the day otherwise. Teams may collaborate on in-class assignments and are encouraged to share resources (including class notes and journal entries).
Assignment Submissions
The vast majority of this course’s graded work will be done in class. Daily assessments will be distributed at the start of each Monday or Wednesday meeting and collected after five minutes. Weekly assessments will be distributed at the start of each Friday meeting and collected at the end of the meeting. The final project will be due during the week of final exams and must be submitted in hard copy, either to my mailbox in T.J. Hall room 300, to the submission box outside my office door, or to the very hands that have crafted this syllabus. Daily assessments cannot be made up if missed (however, students may miss up to three daily assessments and still earn the full 45 points of credit by the end of the semester). If a student must be absent for a weekly assessment, then I will administer a make-up assessment during my office hours if the student provides an official excuse note, either before or upon their return to class. Make-up assessments will be more difficult than assessments administered in class. Final projects will only be accepted late if (1) the student can demonstrate scheduling conflicts with two or more final exams and (2) the conflict is brought to my attention at least three weeks in advance.
Calendar Important dates Students should make special note of events on the following dates. • Friday, February 26 Last day to DROP without penalty • Friday, April 22 Last day to DROP a course and receive a 'W’ • Wednesday, May 18 Last day of class • Wednesday, May 25 Final Project due
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Course outline Month
February
March
April
May
Date
Topic
Reading due
8 10 12 15 17 19 22 24 26 29 2 4 7 9 11 14 16 18 28 30 1 4 6 8 11 13 15 18 20 22 25 27 29 2 4 6 9 11 13 16 18
Introduction Arguments and explanations
None
Syntax and semantics Validity Atomic sentences Logical connectives Sentences Formulae Truth tables 1 Truth tables 2 Truth Sentential semantics Rules of inference 1 Rules of inference 2 Rules of replacement Analogical reasoning Definitions 1 Definitions 2 Predicate logic Quantification Identity Quantified logic semantics Rules for quantifiers Rules for identity Categorical logic Syllogisms Review
Suggested Exercises
None Blackboard download Weekly assessment Chapter 1.1 – 1.3 Chapter 1, Part A Chapter 1.4 – 1.6 Chapter 1, Parts B, C, D Weekly assessment Chapter 2.1 None Chapter 2.2 Chapter 2, Parts A, B Weekly assessment Chapters 2.3 – 2.4 Blackboard download Chapters 2.3 – 2.4 Chapter 2, Parts A, B, C, D, E, F Weekly assessment Chapters 3.1 – 3.2 Blackboard download Chapters 3.3 – 3.4 Chapter 3, Parts A, B, C, D Weekly assessment Blackboard download Chapter 5.1 Blackboard download Weekly assessment Chapter 6.1 Blackboard download Chapter 6.2 Blackboard download Weekly assessment Chapter 6.3 Chapter 6, Parts A & B Blackboard download Weekly assessment Blackboard download Blackboard download Weekly assessment Chapters 4.1 – 4.2 Blackboard download Chapters 4.3 – 4.5 Chapter 4, Parts A, C, D, H Weekly assessment Blackboard download Chapters 4.6, 5.2 – 5.3 Blackboard download Weekly assessment Chapter 6.4 Chapter 6, Parts H, I, J Chapter 6.5 Chapter 6, Parts N, Q Weekly assessment Chapter 4, Part B; Chapter 6, Part L Blackboard download Weekly assessment TBA TBA
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