Catalog Description
This course is an introduction to the problems and techniques of traditional and modern logic comprising both deductive and inductive inference. The student will learn to distinguish arguments from non-arguments, to identify and avoid common fallacies in reasoning, to test for validity both truth functional arguments and categorical syllogisms, to construct simple formal proofs of validity in truth-functional logic, and to understand the nature of inductive reasoning and its relationship to the sciences.
Prerequisite
None
Text
No department requirement. This has traditionally been a standard college class. Many texts cover this material: Copi, Hurley, Manicas and Kruger, Barker, Johnson, etc.
Course Objectives
Course Content
I. WHAT IS LOGIC? 1 week The concept of an argument Distinguishing arguments from non-arguments Complex arguments Inductive vs deductive logic Validity and soundness Formal systems: vocabulary, grammar, semantics, syntax Deductive logic as a formal system. II. MEANING AND DEFINITION 2 weeks Functions of language and grammatical forms: no 1-to-1 correspondence Emotive language Meaningfulness and nonsense - the logical empiricist criterion Recognizing and avoiding ambiguity Kinds of definition Intension and extension Verbal disputes versus genuine disagreement III. INFORMAL FALLACIES 3 weeks The general distinction between formal and informal fallacies Specific informal fallacies. Different textbooks group the fallacies differently. At least the following should be covered: equivocation, composition, division, begging the question, accident, slippery slope, irrelevant emotional appeals (appeals to pity, force, vanity, mob, patriotism, etc.), ad hominem, questionable authority, false dilemma, impromptu definition, loaded question, inconsistency. IV. CATEGORICAL LOGIC 4 weeks Categorical propositions Immediate inferences Syllogisms and techniques for determining validity of syllogisms (Venn diagrams and/or rules) Translating arguments in ordinary language to syllogisms V. LOGIC OF TRUTH FUNCTIONS 5 weeks Ordinary sentential connectives and truth-functional sentential connectives Truth tables Using truth tables to determine validity Logical form and substitution instances Common valid argument forms: modus ponens, modus tollens, disjunctive syllogism, chain argument (hypothetical syllogism), dilemmas, etc. Logical equivalence; proving logical equivalence using truth tables Common logical equivalences: DeMorgan's laws, double negation, commutative law, etc. Using common valid argument forms and common logical equivalences to construct formal proofs of validity of truth-functional arguments (Optional) The truth tree method Truth tables and computers VI. INDUCTIVE LOGIC 2 weeks Inductive fallacies, e.g., hasty generalization The logic of confirmation: Mill's methods Causal fallacies: post hoc, correlation vs causation Arguments from analogy Fallacious or questionable analogies
General Requirements
Completion of required reading and final exam. Other requirements are determined by instructor; these may include homework, quizzes, other exams,
class participation, class attendance, etc.
Evaluation
Generally, evaluation is based primarily on written examinations. The exams are primarily "objective" skill demonstration. Students generally do not write essays in this class.
Suggested Instructional Methods and Materials
Primarily lecture and discussion. Since racist and sexist attitudes are often the result of the application of bad reasoning techniques, racist and sexist arguments are recommended for use as examples of bad argumentation, where appropriate. Computer-aided instructional materials are available. Guest speakers, class debates, etc., may be used as appropriate according to the preference of the individual instructor.