PHL 201

PHL 201: Introduction to Logic

Fall 2007 MWF 9:30–10:20 am HC 316

office hours: MWF 10:30–11 am; MW 1:30–3 pm; and by appointment
office: HC 116 phone (with voicemail): 280-2632 email: stphns at creighton dot edu

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the study of elementary logic. Course objectives include: distinguishing arguments from non-arguments; distinguishing deductive from inductive types of arguments; translating from English into logical notation; determining deductive validity; distinguishing types of inductive reasoning; judging relative inductive strength; identifying formal and informal fallacies; and assessing an argument's overall persuasiveness. We will study categorical logic, the Square of Opposition, Venn diagrams, truth tables, truth-functional (a.k.a. propositional) logic, formal deductions, and linguistic ambiguity. Our goal is to do our best to become as logical as Vulcans.

Required Text

Robert M. Johnson, A Logic Book: Fundamentals of Reasoning; 5th edition (Wadsworth) ISBN 9780495006725.

Internet Logic Resources

Michael Green's LogicTutor accompanies a different textbook, but it has nifty interactive practice exercises and self-quizzes WE can use!
Harry Gensler's Logic Tutorial has MORE practice exercises.
The Univ. of St Thomas has Logic Exercises and self-tests for MORE practice.
Paul Tomassi's OnLine Logic has lots of self-tests.
Eldridge has some Deductive Logic Exercises too.
Want to practice your logical skills by playing with puzzles? Try Puzzlers Paradise.
Gary Curtis' Fallacy Files is an excellent, comprehensive website.
Stephen Downes' guide to Logical Fallacies is useful.
A videoclip from South Park illustrating the tu quoque fallacy.
Frank Ruskey's Survey of Venn Diagrams is quite interesting.
The Traditional Square of Opposition in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Logical Form in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Requirements and Course Grade Calculations

Exams #1, #2, #3, and #4 (16% each)
The Quiz on October 1 is counted as part of Exam #2
Exam #5 (13%)
Final Exam (20%)
Homework Exercises (3%)

Attendance

Daily, punctual attendance is expected. Eight (8) or more absences will result in an AF (failure due to excessive absence) for this course. Being tardy three (3) times counts as one absence. Poor attendance will adversely affect your final course grade if your overall average sits near a borderline between two grades. You are responsible for all material discussed and all announcements made in every class.

Homework

Homework exercises are due at the end of each class on the day they are assigned. They must be hard paper copies, preferably printed. Copies LEGIBLY written by hand are acceptable. Homework cannot be submitted via email or electronic media. Homework turned in after class but before 5 pm the same day receives half credit. Homework turned in after 5 pm on the due date receives no credit. Incomplete homework assignments receive partial credit (do all the exercises you can). Homework assignments earn credit, but are not letter-graded.

Standards of Evaluation for Letter Grades

F "Failure – no credit"

Failure to do homework exercises.
Very poor class attendance with no class participation.
Exam average <60%.

D "Work of inferior quality, but passing"

Poor or inadequate completion of homework exercises.
Poor class attendance with little or no class participation.
60 to <70% exam average.

C "Satisfactory work"

Satisfactory completion of most homework exercises.
Generally consistent class attendance with occasional participation.
70 to <76% exam average is necessary for a C.
76 to <80% exam average is necessary for a C+.

B "Noteworthy level of performance"

Good, clear, and coherent completion of nearly all homework exercises.
Regular, consistent class attendance with regular and thoughtful class participation.
80 to <86% exam average is necessary for a B.
86 to <90% exam average is necessary for a B+.

A "Outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative"

Excellent, superior clarity and coherence of ALL homework exercises.
Superior class attendance with consistent, excellent, and thoughtful participation in discussions.
90% or above exam average is necessary for an A.

Academic Honesty Statement

The Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Policy on Academic Honesty applies to all students. Cheating on an exam is the most serious violation, and will be punished with an F for the course. Students are allowed to work together in doing homework, but the homework sheet turned in should ultimately be the student's own work. Duplicating another student's homework and submitting it as one's own is not permitted, and will be punished with a zero for the Homework Exercises portion of the course requirements. Repeated violations can result in an F for the course.

Keep in Contact with the Instructor throughout the Course

If you have any problem that hinders you from attending class, doing the assigned reading, doing the homework exercises, or studying for the exams, please come see me or call me or send me e-mail or leave me a note in my mailbox or under my office door. Whatever happens in your life, keep in contact with me. Failure to do so is highly illogical.

SCHEDULE of Readings, Homework Assignments, and Exams

Aug. 22: Introduction; Chapter 1.1–1.2 and Exercise 1.2
Aug. 24: Chapter 1.4 and Exercise 1.4; Chapter 1.5 and Exercise 1.5A; Review Questions, True or False? (22–23)
Aug. 27: Chapter 2.1–2.3 and Exercises 2.3A, B
Aug. 29: Chapter 2.4 and Exercises 2.4A, B
Aug. 31: Chapter 2.5 and Exercise 2.5; Chapter 2.6 and Exercise 2.6, Review Questions, True or False? (46)
Labor Day
Sept. 5: Exam #1

Sept. 7: Chapter 3.1–3.3 and Exercises 3.3A, B, C
Sept. 10: Chapter 3.4 and Exercises 3.4A, B
Sept. 12: Chapter 3.5 and Exercise 3.5; Chapter 3.6 and Exercises 3.6A, B, C, D
Sept. 14: Chapter 3.7 and Exercises 3.7 A, B, C, D
Sept. 17: Review Questions, True or False? (87–88); Chapter 4.1–4.2
Sept. 19: Exercises 4.2A, B; Chapter 4.3–4.4
Sept. 21: Exercises 4.4A, B, C
Sept. 24: Chapter 4.5 and Exercises 4.5A, B; Review Questions, True or False? (p.118–119)
Sept. 26: Exam #2

Sept. 28: Chapter 5.1–5.4 and Exercise 5.4
Oct. 1: Ten minute Quiz on Categorical Logic; Chapter and Exercise 5.5
Oct. 3: Chapter and Exercise 5.6
Oct. 5: Chapter 5.7–5.8 and Exercises 5.8A, B, C, D
Oct. 8: Review Questions, True or False? (148–149); Chapter and Exercise 6.1
Oct. 10: Chapter 6.3 and Exercises 6.3A, B; Review Questions, True or False? (162–163)
Oct. 12: Exam #3

Fall Recess

Oct. 22: Chapter 7.1–7.3 and Exercises 7.2A, B, and 7.3A, B
Oct. 24: Exercise 7.3C; Chapter 7.4 and Exercise 7.4A #1–6
Oct. 26: Exercise 7.4A #7–24; Exercise 7.4B #1–8
Oct. 29: Exercise 7.4B #9–22; Exercise 7.4C #1–4
Oct. 31: Exercise 7.4C #5–15, Review Questions, True or False? (187–188)
Nov. 2: Exam #4

Nov. 5: Chapter 8.1–8.2 and Exercises 8.2A, B
Nov. 7: Chapter 8.3 and Exercise 8.3A Types of Causal Arguments
Nov. 9: Mill’s Methods Chapter 8.3D and Exercise 8.3B
Nov. 12: Chapter 8.4 (Argument by Analogy) and Exercise 8.4 #1–8
Nov. 14: Exercise 8.4 #9–16; Exercise 8.5A; Exercise 8.5B #1–6
Nov. 16: Exercise 8.5B #7–20; Review Questions, True or False? (240–241)
Nov. 19: Exam #5

Thanksgiving Recess

Nov. 26: Practice constructing simple deductive arguments (homework for Nov. 28 to be assigned in class); Read RMJ Informal Fallacies Chapter 9.1–9.9
Nov. 28: More practice constructing simple deductive arguments (some homework for Nov. 30 to be assigned in class); RMJ Informal Fallacies Chapter 9.10–9.18
Nov. 30: More practice constructing simple deductive arguments (perhaps more homework assigned in class); do RMJ Exercise 9A #1–10
Dec. 3: Exercise 9A #11–40; Exercise 9B #1–10 (perhaps more homework assigned in class)
Dec. 5: Exercise 9B #11–45; Review Questions, True or False? (280–281)
Dec. 7: Chapter and Exercise 10.4; True or False? (301–305, 327–328)

Monday, Dec. 10,

10:00–11:40 PM Final Exam

last updated 30 November 2007