Elementary Logic I (150-0-20)

Instructors

Sean Ebels Duggan
847/491-2553
Kresge 3-443

Meeting Info

Annenberg Hall G15: Mon, Wed, Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM

Overview of class

(A) My shoes are blue or red. (B) They are not blue. Therefore, (C) they are red. The "therefore" indicates that the transition from (A) and (B) to (C) is an inference: we accept (C) based on (A) and (B). Moreover, it is a good inference. And it is good because of the form of the statements involved: the goodness doesn't depend on our talking about shoes and colors, only on how "or" and "not" work.

Logic asks the question: which inferences are good inferences? And even more: which inferences are good ones because of their form? In this class we look at two basic ways to represent sentences, and ways of characterizing relations of truth among these representations. We'll also learn to reason within our representations, in a regimented way that allows for mechanical verification. Along the way we'll reflect on the philosophical uses, and import, of what we develop.

Learning Objectives

-- Learn truth-functional and first-order logics as formal languages
-- Represent natural-language sentences and arguments using formal systems.
-- Evaluate arguments using both algorithmic (truth-table) and creative (diagrammatic) methods
-- Generate deductive arguments using a finite set of rules
-- Reflect on the effectiveness and limitations of our formal systems.
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This course satisfies the Empirical and Deductive Reasoning (FD-EDR) re-
quirement in Weinberg College.

Class Materials (Required)

All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.

PD Magnus, T Button, R Zach, et al. Forall X: Calgary. Open Logic Project.

(NO BOOK ORDER, this is freely available on line.)

Class Attributes

Empirical and Deductive Reasoning Foundational Dis

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration -- Reserved for Philosophy students.

Associated Classes

DIS - Annenberg Hall G30: Mon 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Fisk Hall 114: Wed 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Frances Searle Building 2370: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM