Larkin Fall 2003

PHIL 213: Deductive Logic

I. Course Information

A. Number: PHIL 213.001

B. Time: TR 9:30-10:45 PM

C. Room: PH 2409

D. Instructor: William S. Larkin

E. Office: PH 2207

F. Office Hours: TR 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, and by appointment

G. E-Mail: wlarkin@siue.edu

H. Office Phone: 650-2643

II. Course Description

The primary objective of this course is to increase students’ ability to efficiently and effectively:

(1) Interpret syntactically complex sentences of ordinary language, and

(2) Evaluate the structure of a significant range of deductive arguments.

To this end we will:

(1) Learn a formal language into which we can translate ordinary language sentences so as to reveal their truth-functional and quantificational structure, and

(2) Master a set of inference rules and proof strategies for determining the validity of truth-functional and quantificational argument forms.

III. Course Requirements

A. Homework

There will be 10 sets of problems assigned for homework. These problems will be due in class on Thursdays. Students will leave class on Thursday with some other student’s homework to review. These peer reviews of homework will be due in class the following Tuesday.

Each homework assignment and peer review will be evaluated on the basis of effort—2 points for an effort that is both complete and in good faith, 1 point for an effort that is either complete or in good faith. No assignment will be accepted more than one class period late, and students handing in late assignments will not be able to peer review some other student’s work (thus losing out on those points).

Problems: 10 sets @ 2 pts./ea.= 20 pts.

Peer Reviews: 10 sets @ 2 pts./ea. = 20 pts.

Total Homework Points = 40 pts.

B. Tests

There will be 4 non-cumulative tests over the course of the semester. These tests will involve problems of the very same kind as those in the homework assignments. Each Test will be worth 15 pts. assigned as follows:

15 = A+, 14 = A, 13 = A-, 12 = B+, 11 = B, 10 = B-, 9 = C+, 8 = C, 7 = C-, 5 = D, 3 = F, 0 = test not taken

Total Test Points = 60 pts.

C. Semester Grade

The semester grade will be determined by the total number of points earned on the Homework and Tests as follows:

88-100 = A

72-87 = B

56-71 = C

36-55 = D

0 – 35 = F

IV. Texts

A. Rental Text:

Stephen Layman, The Power of Logic

V. Expectations

Genuine learning requires active participation and two-way communication. Students are not merely empty vessels waiting to be filled up with information—they come to this course with various backgrounds, beliefs, skills and talents. My goal is (1) to incorporate some new concepts, ideas, and perspectives into students’ pre-existing knowledge base, and (2) to help students acquire and hone certain critical thinking habits and formal reasoning skills. It is expected that you will help facilitate this process by taking an active role in your own learning process. Only with your active participation can genuine learning occur, and only genuine learning will insure success in the course.

I expect you to take an active role in class by taking notes, participating in discussion, asking questions, and providing feedback on how you are doing and how you think the class is going. No behavior in class that manifests a lack of respect for others or their learning objectives will be tolerated. It is absolutely crucial that everyone feel comfortable stating and defending his or her views. Outside of class you are expected to keep up on the assigned readings, complete the assigned homework questions and peer reviews, organize and review notes, and see me in office hours whenever a question or problem arises. I also want to encourage you to get together with fellow students to work on the course material together.

VI. Academic Dishonesty

No kind or degree of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating or plagiarism) will be tolerated. Any such behavior on any assignment will certainly result in failing that assignment, will probably result in failing the course, and may require more drastic measures through official channels.

VII. Weekly Schedule:

Week	Topic	Assignment (All non-starred problems)
1	Basic Concepts	(1.1)
2	Argument Forms	1.2, 1.3A
3	Truth-Functional Translations	7.1C
4	Review	TEST #1
5	Truth Table Analysis	7.2A, 7.3A
6	Proving Invalidity	7.4A
7	Review	TEST #2
8	Rules of Inference	8.1C, 8.1E
9	Equivalence Rules	8.2C, 8.3C
10	Assumptive Proof Strategies	8.4A, 8.5A
11	Review	TEST #3
12	Predicate Logic Translations	9.1C, 9.1E
13	Generalization Rules	9.3C
14	Quantifier Negation Rules	9.4A
15	Review	TEST #4