PHIL 6A: Introduction to Symbolic LogicInstructor: Casey Rufener Prerequisites: None Course Description: Some arguments are persuasive, but some are not. As we will see, some persuasive arguments are incorrect, and some correct arguments are not very persuasive. Because of this, the correctness of arguments requires something other than persuasiveness. We hear the word “logic” thrown around in a myriad of debates. When one says their argument is “more logical” or “follows from logic”, they are conveying that their argument is better. This course will study the formal structures behind good arguments.Simply put, logic is the science of good reasoning and argumentation. Symbolic logic is the use of symbols and formal rules to systematize this reasoning. It must be stressed that the study of symbolic logic depends only on the form of arguments and not the content of the argument. This means that we will be focusing on the formal properties of deductive arguments. We will use symbols to represent types of sentences (propositions), and rules will be used to make inferences to draw a conclusion (this is a formal argument). The topics of this brief course will be: (i) formalization of arguments in propositional logic (ii) natural deduction in propositional logic, (iii)truth tables for propositional logic, (iv)formalization of arguments in predicate logic, (v) natural deduction in predicate logic. Session: Extended Day: Online Time: Asynchronous Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: 2012 Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: HUM Enrollment Limit: 20 students Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,100 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: Yes |
