Elementary Logic I (150-0-20)
Instructors
Sean Christopher Ebels Duggan
847/491-2553
Kresge 3-443
Meeting Info
Annenberg Hall G21: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Overview of class
This course acquaints students with both the power and limitations of formal deductive logic. We want true premises to lead to true conclusions---that is, we want the truth of the conclusions to follow from the truth of the premises. When this happens, we say that the premises entail the conclusions. Logic examines this "follows from", or entailment, relation, and how to represent sentences in an idealized way that captures (at least some) of that relationship. Logic makes subtle mistakes easier to spot—and this is useful in philosophy where arguments can be quite intricate! The first step is learning how to represent sentences in natural language in a symbolic language, which allows for step-by-step reconstruction of natural language arguments. The second step is determining whether the argument, so represented, has features that mark it as an entailment. When it does, conclusions follow from premises! When it doesn't---either the conclusions don't follow, or we need to refine our formal representation of the argument. The course begins by examining truth-functional logic: a system for treating arguments involving "and", "or", "not", and "if…then" constructions. We'll then show how this logic is inadequate, but how its main shortcomings are met by first-order logic, which also accommodates arguments involving quantifier words like "all", "none", and "some".
Learning Objectives
Students in this course will learn: •To recognize deductively valid arguments and inferences, and to distinguish them from empirical, probabilistic inferences, as well as common invalid inference patterns. •To acknowledge the power and systematicity, but also the limitations of deductive reasoning, •To translate natural language sentences into a formal language that makes their logical structure—and so what follows from them—easier to see. •Develop step-by-step reconstructions of real world arguments that make their "follows from" structure apparent. •By modeling natural language arguments, students will see how a simple, abstract language reveals implicit aspects of everyday arguments. As such they will appreciate the value of applying similar formal constructs to a range of different problems • To present arguments, in clear and standard logical notation.
Class Materials (Required)
All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Forall x: Calgary, by Magnus, Button, Zach, et al.
Class Notes
FInal exam in class
Class Attributes
Empirical and Deductive Reasoning Foundational Dis
Formal Studies Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Registration restricted to Undergraduate students only
Associated Classes
DIS - Annenberg Hall G32: Wed 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-420: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-430: Wed 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L06: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L06: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L06: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Locy Hall 110: Mon 11:00AM - 11:50AM