UWG Philosophy Program

 

PHIL 4160 SYMBOLIC LOGIC (3 hours) Spring Semester 2008 MWF 11-11:50am (Pafford 105) Prerequisites: NONE Web Site: http://www.westga.edu/~rlane/symbolic Email: rlane@westga.edu*	Instructor: Dr. Robert Lane, TLC 2247 Office Hours: M: 8:15-45am; 10-10:50am; 12-1:50pm; 3-3:30pm W: 10-10:50am; 1-1:50pm; 3-3:30pm F: 10-10:50am; 12-1:50pm and by appointment My office telephone: (678) 839-4745 Phil. Program office telephone: (678) 839-4744
*All email communication must be conducted from your official UWG email account. Students are obligated to check their UWG email accounts on a regular basis and to ensure that their mailboxes do not become full.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the application of symbolic methods to reasoning, covering sentential logic and predicate logic. Students will learn how to translate ordinary language sentences and arguments into the notation of symbolic logic, determine the truth value of compound sentences, distinguish among various valid and invalid argument forms, and demonstrate the validity or invalidity of arguments in symbolic form.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the semester, each student will be able to:

·         translate ordinary-language statements and arguments into the language of sentential logic and predicate logic, and vice versa

·         determine the truth-value of a compound sentence using the truth table method

·         distinguish among tautologies, contingent sentences and contradictions using the truth table method

·         distinguish between valid and invalid argument forms, using the truth table method and the proof method

·         demonstrate that a given argument in symbolic form is valid or invalid

These course-specific learning outcomes contribute to the departmental learning outcomes of the Philosophy Program by enabling students better to

·         incorporate philosophical positions in oral and written communications

·         critically outline and analyze a philosophical question

 

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

·         This is primarily a lecture course, but it requires a great deal of student participation.

·         On most class days, you will be assigned (i) exercises from your textbook and (ii) a reading assignment (see the Course Schedule at the end of this syllabus).

·         At the beginning of each class, we will review the exercises assigned in the previous class. You should be prepared to participate by explaining how you answered or solved the problems assigned for that day. You may sometimes be required to write your answer/solution on the board. Since the answers to all even-numbered problems are in the back of your textbook, we will typically go over only the odd-numbered problems in class. Your preparedness with regard to these exercises will count toward the “class participation.”

·         After this review of exercises, I will lecture on the material you’ve been assigned to read for that day. You should be prepared to ask any questions you may have about the reading assignment at this time.

·         At the end of each class, I will assign new exercises and a new reading assignment for the following class.

 

TEXTS:

Hausman, Kahane and Tidman, Logic and Philosophy: A Modern Introduction, tenth ed.

·         An errata list (a list of mistakes) for this book is online:

http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&flag=student&product_isbn_issn=9780495128441&discipline_number=5

You should download and print a copy of this list and keep it with your textbook.

 

EVALUATION:

·         Three in-class examinations (20% each)

·         Comprehensive final examination (30%)

·         Class participation (10%)

·         GRADING SCALE:

100 - 91%  A*          90 - 81%  B       80 - 71%  C       70 - 61%  D       60 - 0%  F

 

ATTENDANCE, FOOD, CELLPHONES, ETC.

·         I will take attendance at the beginning of each class. You may miss six class meetings with no effect on your grade. Beginning with your seventh absence, you will lose three points from your final average for every class meeting you miss. This policy applies to the first week of class, even for days on which you have not yet registered for the class. I will make exceptions for absences necessitated by UWG-sponsored events or by other circumstances that were absolutely outside your control. However, I will make these exceptions only if ALL of your absences can be accounted for in one of these ways (e.g., if you miss seven classes and you have documented, acceptable reasons for missing only six classes, then your seventh absence will still count against you). Documentation will be required in all cases in which I make an exception to this absence policy. Students who miss 12 or more class meetings (four weeks, or one month, worth of classes) will not earn a passing grade in this course. The reason for your absences is irrelevant. If you are unable to attend class for a month due to medical reasons, a family emergency, or any other reason, you should withdraw from the class; if the withdrawal date has passed, you should apply for a hardship withdrawal.

·         An early departure or late arrival may be counted as an absence, depending on the circumstances. I will decide in each case whether an early departure or a late arrival counts as an absence. If you know before class that you will not be able to stay for the entire class session, please inform me of this before class and sit as close to the door as possible, so as to cause as small a distraction as possible when you leave.

·         Leaving the classroom while class is in session (e.g., to visit the restroom) is both disrespectful and distracting. Do not leave the room during class unless it is absolutely essential that you do so.

·         Do not study material from other classes while this class is in session. While you are in this class, I expect your attention to be focused on it rather than on your other courses.

·         You may not bring food into the classroom; however, you may bring something to drink.

·         Turn off all cell phones and other noise-making electronic devices before class begins.

 

MISSED TESTS / LATE PAPERS / EXTRA CREDIT:

·         If you know that you will need to miss class on a day on which a test is scheduled (for example, due to a UWG sponsored event), you must let me know about your absence as far in advance as possible so that we can schedule another day and time for you to take the test (or a make-up test). If you miss a test without receiving my explicit permission beforehand and making arrangements for a make-up test, you will be permitted to take a make-up test if and only if one of the following conditions applies: (a) Your absence was due to illness or injury serious enough to require professional medical care and which prevented you from contacting me before the test; or (b) Your absence was due to other extenuating circumstances beyond your control. I will determine on a case-by-case basis what constitutes "extenuating circumstances beyond your control." You may be required to provide documentation pertaining to your absence before you are allowed to take a make-up test. Make-up tests will usually be longer and potentially more difficult than the original test that you missed.

·         You may turn in your term paper late ONLY IF you have made arrangements with me beforehand and I have given you explicit permission.

·         Extra-credit work will not be given under any circumstances. Work completed for other courses will not be accepted in this course.

 

RELEVANT INFORMATION FROM THE UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG:

·         "each student is responsible for everything which happens in class and is responsible for making specific arrangements with the instructor for the work missed, including that missed during illness or university-sponsored activities"

·         "any student who is unable to continue attendance in class should either drop the course, withdraw from the University, or make appropriate arrangements with the instructors"

·         "any student who must be absent for more than three successive days is required to notify the Student Development Center, Parker Hall, telephone 770-836-6428."

·         "Students who do not intend to remain in a course must drop the course before the end of the official drop/add period. Failure to drop a course during the drop/add period may result in grades of F in courses not attended."

·         Academic Honor. "At West Georgia, the student is expected to achieve and maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and excellence. Not only does academic honesty preserve the integrity of both the student and the institution, but it is also essential in gaining a true education. The West Georgia student, therefore, pledges not to lie, cheat or steal in the pursuit of his or her studies and is encouraged to report those who do." Students who commit plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas without attribution of credit) will receive an “F” for the entire course and may be reported to the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for additional action.

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE: SYMBOLIC LOGIC (PHIL 4160)

 

THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND MAY CHANGE AS THE SEMESTER PROGRESSES. THIS INCLUDES TEST DATES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. I will attempt to maintain an up-to-date version of the course schedule on the class web site. However, if you miss class, it is your responsibility to keep up with test dates, due dates, and reading assignments. All readings and exercises are from Hausman, Kahane, & Tidman, Logic and Philosophy (10^th ed.)

 

We will cover the "exercises due" at the beginning of each day’s class. You should complete all problems in each exercise before coming to class and check your answers to the even-numbered problems against the answers given in the back of the textbook. We will typically cover in class only the odd-numbered problems.

 

Jan.	exercises due	reading due	lecture topic
9 W	--	--	Introduction to the course
11 F	--	Ch.1:1 (pp.1-3)	Introduction to arguments
14 M	1-1	Ch.1:2-9 (pp.5-15)	Deduction and Induction
16 W	1-2, 1-3	Ch.2:1-5 (pp.21-29)	Symbolizing in sentential logic
18 F	2-1	Ch.2:6-10 (pp.28-36)	Symbolizing in sentential logic
21 M	No class: MLK holiday	--	--
23 W	2-2, 2-3, 2-4	Ch.2:11-14 (pp.37-47)	Symbolizing in sentential logic
25 F	2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 2-8	Ch.3:1-2 (pp.55-64)	Truth tables
28 M	3-1, 3-4, 3-5	Ch.3:3-4 (pp.65-71)	Truth tables
30 W	3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6 3-7	Ch.3:5-7 (pp.72-78)	Truth tables

 

Feb.	exercises due	reading due	lecture topic
1 F	3-7, 3-8 3-9	--	Catch-up & review for test 1
4 M	--	--	Exam 1
6 W	--	Ch.4:1-5 (pp.88-98)	Proofs
8 F	4-1, 4-2, 4-3	Ch.4:6-7 (pp.99-107)	Proofs
11 M	4-4, 4-5, 4-6	Ch.4:8-10 (pp.108-110)	Proofs
13 W	4-7, 4-8	Ch.4:11-12 (pp.113-123)	Proofs
15 F	4-10, 4-11, 4-12	--	Proofs
18 M	--	Ch.5:1-2 (pp.125-138)	Conditional & indirect proofs
20 W	5-1, 5-3, 5-4	Ch.5:3-5 (pp.139-142)	Conditional & indirect proofs
22 F	5-5, 5-6, 5-7	Ch.3:8-9 (pp.78-82)	Short truth tables
25 M	3-10, 3-11	--	Short truth tables
27 W	--	--	Catch-up & review for test 2
29 F	--	--	Exam 2

 

March	exercises due	reading due	lecture topic
3 M	--	Ch.7:1-3 (pp.165-73)	Predicate logic symbolization
5 W	7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4	Ch.7:4 (pp.175)	Predicate logic symbolization
7 F	7-5	Ch.7:5-7 (pp.176-80)	Predicate logic symbolization
10 M	7-6, 7-7	Ch.7:9 (pp.181-182)	Predicate logic symbolization
12 W	7-9, 7-10	Ch.8:1-2, 4-5 (pp.189-93, 195-96)	Predicate logic semantics
14 F	--	--	No class: Dr. Lane at conference
17 M	--	--	SPRING BREAK
19 W	--	--	SPRING BREAK
21 F	--	--	SPRING BREAK
24 M	8-1, 8-2, 8-4	Ch.9:1-2 (pp.198-205)	Predicate logic proofs
26 W	9-1	Ch.9:3 (pp.205-209)	Predicate logic proofs
28 F	9-2	Ch.9:4-5 (pp.210-15)	Predicate logic proofs
31 M	9-3	Ch.9:6 (pp.216-20)	Predicate logic proofs

 

Apr.	exercises due	reading due	lecture topic
2 W	9-5 (#1-15 only)	--	Predicate logic proofs
4 F	--	--	Catch-up & review
7 M	--	--	Exam 3
9 W	--	Ch.10:1-2 (pp.222-25)	Relational predicate logic
11 F	10-1, 10-2, 10-3	Ch.10:4 (pp.230)	Relational predicate logic
14 M	10-4 (#5-15 only)	Ch.10:5 (pp.231-34)	Relational predicate logic
16 W	10-6, 10-7	Ch.10:7 (pp.237-42)	Relational predicate logic
18 F	10-9	Ch.10:8 (pp.244-45)	Relational predicate logic
21 M	10-10 [optional: 10-11]	Ch.13:1 (pp.283-88)	Identity
23 W	13-1, 13-2	Ch.13:2 (pp.289-90)	Definite Descriptions
25 F	13-3	Ch.13:3 (pp.291-94)	Properties of Relations
28 M	13-4 (parts A & B)	--	Catch-up & review
30 W	--	--	Catch-up & review

 

FINAL EXAM: Friday May 2, 11am-1pm

 

IMPORTANT DATES:    January 9-15                Drop/add and late registration March 3                        Last day to withdraw with grade of "W"