Syllabus: Philosophy 060
Symbolic Logic I
Fall 2008
Catalogue Description
An introduction to deductive logic. Topics include: basic concepts of deductive logic; techniques of formal proof in propositional and predicate logic. 3 units.
Learning Objectives
In this course you will learn what it really means to prove something. A real proof is a thing of beauty (TOB). Like all other TOB's, it takes quite a bit of work to appreciate this. If this course is successful, then at least once before the end of the semester, the beauty of a deductive proof will smack you hard right between the eyes. You will shed tears of joy, and you will be forever changed. (Unfortunately, this form of success is difficult to test, and does not guarantee a passing grade.)
Real proofs do not occur anywhere except in logic, mathematics, and geometry. For example, there is no such thing as a scientific proof, in our sense of the term. There are such things as mathematical and geometrical proofs, but that is only because mathematics and geometry can be treated as extensions of logic. There is actually quite a bit more to logic than proof, however. Symbolic logic is the most precise form of notation ever developed, and has been absolutely fundamental to contemporary developments in in mathematics, linguistics, computer science and, yes, philosophy. Simply becoming comfortable with logical notation is an enormous benefit to anyone who would like to do advanced work in these fields. More generally, the course will also develop your ability to think carefully and precisely in an abstract way, which will be useful to you in all future studies.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
(1) explain key concepts such as logical necessity,
consistency, contradiction, tautology, validity, and soundness.
(2) Employ the logical connectives in formalizing arguments and
write out the truth-tables for all of them.
(3)
Use truth-tables to test for consistency and validity
(4) Formalize statements in natural language using the
propositional calculus
(5) Perform proofs
using the rules of the propositional calculus
(6)
Formalize statements in natural language using the predicate calculus
(7) Perform proofs using the rules of the predicate
calculus
Course Structure
Assignments
Your grade in this course will be calculated on the basis of your performance on 10 of 13 tests and an optional final exam. The tests are worth 10 pts. each and only your best 10 scores will count. There will also be an optional final exam worth 100 points. If you take the final, your grade in the course will be based on the average of your final grade and your tests scores.
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Grading Scheme 1
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Grading Scheme 2
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Your final grade is based on 100 pts. In calculating your final grade fractional point totals are rounded up to the nearest whole point. Grades are assigned on a standard scale with minuses (-) added to scores under 100 ending in 0 and 1 and plusses (+) added to scores ending in 8 or 9. Note: You and only you are responsible for monitoring your performance in this course. Be sure to pay close attention to the drop deadline. Do not hesitate to talk to me if you are experiencing problems at any time during this course.
Course Structure
This course meets on Mondays and Wednesday. Typically, class time will be used as follows:
Course Rules
Attendance
Students who do not attend this class on a regular basis usually fail it. Therefore, if you prefer to not fail the class you should plan on attending class on a regular basis.
Academic Honesty and Collaboration Policy
I encourage cooperative learning on homework, which is not graded. Your grade is based entirely on tests administered in class, and you may not cooperate on these. Doing so will result in immediate expulsion from the class and referral to student affairs for disciplinary action. Students unfamiliar with CSUS academic honesty policy, should review it at: http://www.csus.edu/admbus/umanual/UMA00150.htm.
Course Materials
Textbook. Deduction, by Daniel Bonevac.
Class notes and problem sets and solutions
distributed on instructor's website.
Students with Special Needs
Students who have special learning or testing needs must notify the instructor by the end of the second week of the semester. Students who fall into this category should visit SSWD Lassen Hall 1008 (916) 278-6955 with appropriate documentation.
Caveat
With the exception of the final exam, dates, times and the schedule of readings are subject to revision at the discretion of the instructor.