Syllabus

Phl 313Q:
Logic and Scientific Reasoning

Prof. R. Koons -- Fall 2001

MWF 1-2

1. To become adept at using logic in the following ways:
   1. exposing hidden assumptions of inferences.
   2. raising pertinent secondary questions, questions that must be answered in the course of answering the principal question.
   3. exposing inconsistency in information and assumptions., and recovering from inconsistency by locating questionable information.
   4. discovering and explaining theoretical anomalies.
   5. understanding and creating informal proofs in mathematics.
2. To acquire the following skills of argumentation:
   1. identifying arguments.
   2. understanding and analyzing arguments.
   3. evaluating arguments for correctness and completeness.
   4. repairing incomplete or otherwise defective arguments.
   5. constructing new arguments.
3. To gain basic competence in the following forms of reasoning:
   1. propositional logic.
   2. predicate logic with identity.
   3. probability theory.
   4. decision theory.

RULES OF CLASSROOM DECORUM

Attendance at lectures is not mandatory, except during the Wednesday Logic Workshops. If you decide to attend the lecture, please observe the following rules:

1. Do not catch up on lost sleep or read the newspaper or anything unrelated to the class.
2. Do not leave during the class period, unless you have asked for permission to do so before class begins and have seated yourself near an exit.
3. Do not enter the lecture hall more than 2 minutes late.
4. Do not continue conversing with your neighbors after the lecture or discussion has begun.
5. Except when rule 2 applies, sit in your assigned seat.

1. Introduction to Inquiry -- LT, Ch. 1
2. Formal Table Method (propositional logic) -- LT, Ch. 2
3. Translation of English into Propositional Logic, Argument Analysis -- LT, Ch. 3, 4
4. Argument Analysis -- LT, Ch. 4
5. Argument Analysis, Modal Logic -- LT, Ch. 4, 5.1-5.3
   FIRST EXAM -- Oct. 1
   
6. Defeasible Logic -- LT, Ch. 6
7. Defeasible Argument Analysis -- LT, Ch. 7
8. Rebuttals of Defeasible Arguments -- LT, Ch. 7
9. Natural Deduction System for Prop. Logic -- LT, Ch. 11
10. Natural Deduction, cont. -- LT, Ch. 11
    SECOND EXAM -- Nov. 2
    
11. Introduction to Predicate Logic -- LT, Ch. 9
12. Predicate Logic -- Table Method -- LT, Ch. 10
13. Natural Deduction for Pred. Logic -- LT, Ch. 12
14. Probability --- LT, Ch. 14
15. Decision Theory -- LT, Ch. 15

FINAL EXAM (Optional) - during exam week.

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