LARKIN                                                                                                                               

FALL 2002

 

PHIL 411: Advanced Symbolic Logic

Syllabus

 

 

I.          Course Information

A.   Name: Advanced Symbolic Logic

B.   Number: PHIL 411.001

C.   Days/time: MWF 9:00-9:50 AM

D.  Room: FH 2211

 

II.        Instructor Information

A.   Name: Dr. William S. Larkin

B.   Office: PH 2207

C.   Office Hours: MW 1-2

D.  Office Phone: 650-2643

E.   E-Mail: wlarkin@siue.edu

 

 

III.       Course Description

This course will explore the meta-theory for and modal extensions of classical first-order logic.  In the first half of the course we will construct a formal system of first-order predicate logic, and at various stages of the construction we will prove certain meta-theorems about the adequacy of that system.  The primary objective here is to investigate the scope and limits of classical first-order logic.  The secondary objective is to better understand the nature of formal systems so that we may better use such a system to reveal the underlying logical structure of language and determine the structural validity of arguments.  In the second half of the course we will extend the proof procedures developed in the first half to deal with arguments that concern necessity and possibility.  The objective here is to provide a structural framework with which to pursue a more rigorous understanding of such philosophically significant concepts as truth, knowledge, and duty.

 

 

 

IV.              Texts

A.  RENTAL:  Formal Logic: Its Scope and Limits, 3rd ed., Richard Jeffrey.

B.  PURCHASE:  Modal Logics and Philosophy, Rod Girle

 

 

 

 

V.         Course Requirements

1.      Participation: Attendance in addition to active engagement with discussions and the review of homework problems will be worth 10% of the semester grade.

 

2.      Tests:  There will be six tests over the course of the semester, each worth 15% of the semester grade.

 

 

 

 

VI.       Weekly Schedule

 

Week One:  Introduction, Logical Systems, and Truth-Functional Logic

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 1

 

Week Two:  Truth Trees 

Read:     Jeffrey, Chapter 2, pp. 21-31

 

Week Three:  Meta-theory for Propositional Logic

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 2, pp. 31-34

 

                  TEST #1

 

 

 

Week Four:  Generality

                              Read:  Jeffrey, Chapter 3, pp. 35-54

 

Week Five:  Meta-theory for Single Quantifier Predicate Logic

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter3, pp. 55-57

 

                  TEST #2

 

 

 

Week Six:             Multiple Generality

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 4, pp. 59-70

 

Week Seven:  Meta-theory for Multiple Quantifier Predicate Logic

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 4, pp. 70-72

 

                  TEST #3

 

 

 

Week Eight:  Identity

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 5, pp. 75-81

 

Week Nine:  Meta-theory for Predicate Logic with Identity

                              Read:    Jeffrey, Chapter 5, pp. 81-84

 

                  TEST #4

 

 

 

Week Ten:  Modal Logic

                              Read:    Girle, Chapters 1 and 2

 

Weeks Eleven/Twelve:  Normal Modal Logics

Read:    Girle, Chapter 3 

 

                  TEST #5

 

 

 

Week Thirteen:  Modal Predicate Logics

Read:    Girle, Chapter 4

 

Week Fourteen:  Alethic Modality

                              Read:    Girle, Chapter 7           

 

Week Fifteen:  Epistemic Logic

                              Read:    Girle, Chapter 10

 

                  TEST #6