Pierce College logo

 Fall 2009 (#3217)

Philosophy 9 -- Symbolic Logic

go to the schedule
call up the link for your weekly progress report
check your progress


Doug McFerran Doug McFerran photo
problems banner

Course description:

With symbolic logic we learn how to take factual statements and represent them in such a way that we may develop deductively valid arguments. We also learn how to test arguments for validity and how to demonstrate step by step that a particular conclusion follows from a set of premises

Expected student learning outcomes:

By the end of the course you should be able to

--symbolize statements in both propositional and quantifier logic (including relationships expressed with dyadic predicates),
--use a truth table method to test propositional arguments and other methods to test arguments involving quantifiers, and
--use a natural deduction system to present derivations in both propositional and quantifier logic.

You should also be able to

--recognize the difference between an argument intended to be deductively valid and other types of reasoning, and
--see when a mistake in reasoning involves a formal fallacy rather than an informal one.

Something you should know:

While this course is typically required for philosophy majors and also for computer science majors, please remember that it does not satisfy the critical reasoning requirement for the UC campuses and so is not part of the IGETC program.  It does satisfy the critical reasoning requirement for graduation at Pierce and it also satisfies the critical reasoning requirement for the Cal State campuses.  Make sure to look carefully at your catalog, and ask a counselor if you are in doubt.

Text:  The material for the course is entirely online.  It is divided into three sections.  Each chapter includes some brief exercises with answer keys, and there are several review pages.

An additional resource worth purchasing (available through Amazon.com as well as your local bookstores) is Logic for Dummies by Mark Zegarelli

cover of "Logic for Dummies"

       See the schedule for the fall session.
       Weekly log
     

What is expected of you:

Symbolic logic requires going step by step in order to develop the specific skills necessary for symbolization, testing, and proofs.  Rarely is a student able to cram for an exam and survive.  Because you are working independently you do have considerable flexibility in how you organize your time for the course, but during the regular semester you should allow from three to nine hours a week.  You should try to keep up with the indicated schedule so as not to be at a loss when it is time for the review tests or the final.  (Please note that an incomplete will not be allowed in the course except for a genuine emergency at the time of the final.)

Each chapter presents an explanation and examples for one of the things you need to be able to work with.  There is then a brief set of exercises with an answer key available (to get the full benefit you should attempt these exercises on your own and not just skip to the answer key).  On the page with the answer key there is a banner link to a form that will let you ask me about anything you may not see clearly (the same banner link you see above).  In addition, I do ask for a weekly progress report, which also allows a chance for me to provide additional assistance.

Grading:

A=90, B=80, C=70, D=60

Each student begins the semster with 50 points, which can be lost or added to.   Fifteen weekly progress reports are expected (use this link) , and each week for which I do not receive this report by the Monday of the following week will lead to a one-point deduction (reasonable excuses will cancel the deduction).  On the other hand, there are ten expected exercises (seven in the chapters and three review exercises indicated on the syllabus) worth an additional point each.  You may follow your progress on a special web page.