Philosophy 120: Logic Online
Fall Quarter 2007
Instructor: Ed George
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With symbolic logic we learn how to take factual
statements and represent them in such a way that we may develop deductively
valid arguments. We also learn how to test arguments for validity and how to
demonstrate step by step that a particular conclusion follows from a set of
premises.
By the end of the course you
should be able to symbolize statements in both propositional and quantifier
logic, use a truth table method to test propositional arguments and other
methods to test arguments involving quantifiers, and use a natural deduction
system to present proofs, or derivations, in both propositional and quantifier
logic. You should also be able to recognize the difference between an argument
intended to be deductively valid and other types of reasoning.
Required
Text: Patrick J. Hurley, A
Concise Introduction to Logic (9th edition, 2005)
Please note that the CD-ROM
accompanying the book has a multimedia instructional program for each section
of each chapter. In addition, there is a companion
site for the text that includes additional aids. In the Web Links I have a
link to a set of enhanced podcast lectures from a logic course at UCSD, and
those with broadband access may find them helpful. You should become familiar
with these resources and use them as needed. I may also post other resouces
there.
Note: You are allowed to
use a previous edition of this text, though you may not have the advantage of
the CD-ROM.
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A. A short period will be devoted to the
first three chapters covering basic terminology.
1. Reading
carefully--recognizing arguments from persuasive appeals.
2. Argument analysis--premises and
conclusions.
3. Deductive and inductive reasoning.
4. Valid, Invalid, and Sound arguments.
B. The remainder of the
course will be devoted to covering the basic skills of symbolic logic.
1. Symbolic
Translation.
2. Truth Tables.
3. Formal Proofs of Validity (Rules of
Inference/Implication and Rules of Replacement)
4. Conditional and Indirect
proofs
5. Predicate/quantification Logic
Please read the following very
carefully:
1. You will be
expected to read the assigned portions of the text carefully and attempt to do
the assigned problems in each chapter . This is crucial, if you wish to master the
skills and do well on the quizzes and exams. You can expect to have to
re-read certain sections to insure that you thoroughly understand the concepts.
Use of Learning Logic CD and/or the Logic Coach on the
companion website are extremely helpful tools and you will be expected
to make use of them before attempting the exercises in the text. The advantage
of using the tutorials is that you get immediate feedback. So, a flow chart of
your activitiy would look like this:
Read assigned chapter/section
--> Do tutorial (CD or Logic Coach)-->Work
assigned exercise*-->Take quiz
*For each of the assigned
exercises you will work those which are starred. The answers are in the back of
the book. If you need or wish additional exercises, I can provide the answers
for you.
2. Work regularly.
The course material is presented in a step-by-step manner. Missing one
step will mean that you will not be able to understand the next step.
This will lead to a great deal of frustration on your part. In my
experience, the persons who do most poorly in this class are those who get
behind in the material. The best approach it to do a little bit each day.
Make sure that you do not go for long periods of time without doing anything
related to the class or you will find yourself having to relearn and
refamiliarize yourself with the material.
3. Read all my
announcements. I
use the announcements as my primary way of communicating with the class..You are expected to read my announcements in order to stay
informed.
4. Read and Print the Calendar. Another
source of important information for this class is the calendar. It contains dues
dates and information about your quizzes and exams. You are responsible for
meeting all due dates.
There will be the following quizzes and exams:
|
ten quizzes
(20 pts. each)* |
20%. |
|
one exam on
basic concepts and propositional logic |
20% |
|
an exam
covering natural deduction in propositional logic |
30% |
|
an exam
covering predicate logic |
30% |
*No make-up quizzes will be
given. You will be allowed to drop the lowest quiz score, so keep this in mind
if you need to go out of town, etc. Only in extreme
circumstances--death in the family, hospitilization, etc.--will you be allowed
to make up an exam.
About the Quizzes:
The quizzes are mostly drawn
from a test bank associated with the text and will change from quarter to
quarter. They are generally multiple-choice in format, and will be graded
automatically. You will be allowed to take each quiz three times, with your
highest score being recorded. Note: You
must get a minimum of 65% correct on any quiz before you will be allowed to
take the next quiz*. You will have to do all the quizzes prior
to each exam. For example, quizzes 1-3 must be done before you can take Exam I.
They will be accessible up to shortly before the due date for the exam, so you
can take each whenever you are ready.
*If you score lower than 65%
on your first or second attempt, this tells you that you need to go back and
work more on the chapter that the quiz covers. If you still are unable to score
above 65% by your third attempt, you will need to contact me,
About the Exams:
There will be three exams for
the course. The exams will have a more varied format than the quizzes. You may
have to apply certain formatting codes so that your answers can be read. I will
let you know about these simple codes. You will have only one attempt at each
exam. They are not always graded automatically.
Grade will be assigned
according to the percentages below:
|
Percentage |
Grade |
|
100-96 |
A |
|
95-90 |
A- |
|
89-86 |
B+ |
|
85-83 |
B |
|
82-80 |
B- |
|
79-76 |
C+ |
|
75-73 |
C |
|
72-70 |
C- |
|
69-66 |
D+ |
|
65-63 |
D |
|
62-60 |
D- |
|
59 and below |
F |
A note to Summer Classes
The shortned summer term,
8-weeks, means that the schedule will be compressed from the normal ten week
quarter, thus the pace will be much faster.