HONORS PRINCIPLES OF REASONING AND ARGUMENTATION (LOGIC) Fall 2008
Dr. Christine A. James
Philosophy 2020H
Section A
TR 8:00-9:15am WH 104
CRN 80766
Office: 110 Ashley Hall
Office Hours: TR 9:15am-11:00am, MW
3:15pm-4:45pm and after classes and by appointment as needed.
Telephone: 259-7609
Mailbox: Philosophy Department Office
Fax: 259-5011
E-mail address: chjames@valdosta.edu
Please note that specific dates for readings
and graded assignments in the syllabus may be adjusted and updated throughout
the semester. The latest version of the
syllabus will always be available at http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/2020Fall2008.htm
Course Content: What does it
take to express an idea well? What does
it mean to convince someone? Logic
provides a method to systematically analyze expressions and arguments. This
course provides an introduction to logic, using examples from a variety of
perspectives: law, science, and everyday experience. We will cover sentential logic (involving
sentences using "not", "and", "or", and
"if..., then..."), we will use truth-table and natural deduction
techniques, and we will cover elementary quantifier logic (involving sentences
using "all" and "some").
These techniques will help you to recognize arguments, evaluate
arguments for validity, think critically, and use arguments well in your own
writing. We will also apply these skills
to real-world situations, including legal case studies.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Philosophy courses at
http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/VSUGeneralEducationOutcomes.shtml
The Learning Outcomes for PHIL 2020
are:
1.
Use more advanced logical and critical reasoning techniques through the
examination of various methods of logic from formal and informal traditions.
2.
Discuss such topics as: the nature of critical thinking, classification,
meaning, and definition; ambiguity and vagueness;
categorical logic; explanation and argument; techniques of persuasion;
propositional logic; deduction and induction; and pseudo-reasoning (fallacies).
3.
Apply these critical reasoning principles to a variety of problems and
contexts, including writing and analysis in other courses.
4.
Use the truth table method to determine the truth-value of compound
sentences and to distinguish among tautologies, contingent sentences and
contradictions.
5.
Distinguish between valid and invalid argument forms, using the truth
table method and the proof method.
6.
Translate ordinary-language statements and arguments into the language of
sentential logic and/or predicate logic, and vice versa.
7
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 and
Religious Studies Major by enabling students better to
1. To encourage an understanding of central
issues, topics and philosophers in the history of philosophy, from the ancient
to the modern periods.
2. To develop students’ abilities to think,
write, and speak critically and logically.
3. To enable students to challenge their own
ideas and to develop self-understanding in the context of a diverse range of
ideas which inform contemporary controversies and social conflict.
4. To enable students to engage in independent
philosophical research, and to be responsible for communicating their
understanding of the issues researched and developed, including a working
familiarity with current research methods.
5. To incorporate philosophical
positions in oral and written
6. To critically outline and analyze a
philosophical question.
Members of the faculty in Philosophy
and Religious Studies have verified that these outcomes are in line with the
outcomes of the course as it is taught at peer institutions in the State System
of Georgia.
In addition the Honors Program has
the following outcomes or objectives. Our couse
contributes to all of them in various ways, because logic relates to a variety
of disciplines and learning.
1. Effective written communication skills (including ability to use
research).
2. Effective oral communication skills.
3. Effective quantitative skills.
4. The ability to analyze and synthesize a broad range of material.
5. The ability to make meaningful connections between various
disciplines.
6. The ability to formulate a problem, develop a plan of action, and
prove or disprove an hypothesis (or to create and
produce an original work or do research).
7. The ability to take greater
responsibility for own learning (demonstrate curiosity, motivation, risk-taking
characteristics, and the ability to bring to bear logic and knowledge of the
issue being discussed).
Requirements: Three unit tests, daily homework graded in
class, class participation, a comprehensive final exam. All assignments must be completed on
schedule, and continual practice using the problems in each chapter is
necessary for success in the course. You
must be willing to work independently, and you must motivate yourself to learn
the new vocabulary, to learn the rules of inference, and to practice new
problems. Our time together in class
will involve lecturing on new material, answering questions about relevant
material, going over sample problems, and working in groups. I encourage discussion and participation in
class.
Required Text: Hurley's A Concise
Introduction to Logic, 9th or 10 th edition.
You may also purchase the study guide if you choose. Feel free to work with friends in other
sections; feel free to use the computer labs on campus using the disk included
with the Hurley text. The CD-ROM disk in
the back of your text contains the homework program, and it should work on any
IBM or Macintosh computer. (Please note
that you might choose not to use the CD-ROM that comes with the text. It is not required, and opening the CD-ROM
envelope in the back of the book will decrease/nullify the book’s resale
value.)
(In addition, Philosophy and Religious Studies faculty encourage
you to use Andrea A. Lunsford, St. Martin’s Handbook, 5th ed. which was
required in ENGL 1101 and 1102 courses. These books are available for purchase
at the VSU Bookstore. The
How grades will be calculated:
A =
100 - 90%
B =
89 - 80%
C =
79 - 70% Please note that I am not obligated
to accept any late work,
D =
69 - 60% and I do not give late
examinations after the date listed on the
F =
59 - 0% syllabus. You must
complete work on time.
3
Problems-based in-class quizzes at 10% each = 30%
3
Unit Tests at 10% each = 30%
Participation,
asking good questions in class = 10%
1
Final Exam at 20% = 20%
1
Honors Research Paper on Logic at 10% = 10%
Total
= 100%
The Honors version of the PHIL 2020
class involves a variety of challenging activities including quantitatively and
qualitatively enriched examinations and final examination writing assignments.
This will prepare you to write a research paper on logic due at the end of the
course. This is what makes it an Honors
course.
Attendance Policy: I do care
that you attend class regularly. As you
know, VSU policy is that missing 20% of class meetings results in an automatic
grade of “F”. Faculty can also institute
added attendance policies in their syllabi. Our class will have a 10% rule for
absences. You can miss up to 10% of the
class meetings with no grade penalty.
10% of our 30 class meetings is 3.
On absence number 4, your final grade for the course will be reduced by
one whole letter grade; on absence number 5, your final grade for the course
will be reduced by two whole letter grades; on absence number 6, you will
automatically fail the course. Be
considerate of your fellow students – don’t be late, and don’t leave your cell
phones and pagers on. Please note that
this policy makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences.
Special Needs:
Students requiring classroom accommodations or modification
because of a documented disability should discuss this need with me at the
beginning of the semester. Students requesting classroom
accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability must contact
the Access Office for Students with Disabilities located in room 1115 Nevins
Hall. The phone numbers are 245-2498 (voice) and 219-1348 (tty).
Academic
Honesty:
Members
of the
http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/AcademicHonestyPoliciesandProcedures.shtml
http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/documents/ReportofAcademicDishonesty.doc
E-Mail:
VSU
policy mandates that all official communication by e-mail take place through
VSU e-mail accounts or through the WebCT Vista Mail
tool. Please check your VSU
(@valdosta.edu) e-mail account regularly.
Schedule:
You must come to class with the
reading assignments already done, and you should have requests for homework
problems to go over in class. Notice
that homework assignments are associated with each section of the text, you
should begin trying the homework problems as you read. These are the homework problems that will
prepare you for the quizzes and examinations.
Note: This
syllabus is not a legal contract; the content of this course is subject to
revision by the professor.
Month/Day Topics Reading Assignment
and Problem Choices
8/19 T Introduction
to class. Begin
homework, using the online information:
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/firstlogichandout.htm
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log1.pdf
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/logprob1.pdf
8/21 R Statements/Arguments 1.1-1.2
8/26 T More Statements and Arguments 1.2-1.3
8/28 R Deduction and
Induction 1.3
- 1.4
9/2 T Evaluating Arguments, Language of Symbolic Logic 1.4
9/4 R QUIZ ON CHAPTER 1 (After the Quiz, begin reading in the next
sections, come in next class having already read.)
9/9 T Begin Propositional Logic 6.1
9/11 R Focus The Nation Special
Activity (Political Issues and Arguments)
9/16 T Translation into Symbolic Language (PL) 6.1
9/18 R Truth Functions 6.2
9/23 T Truth Tables 6.3
(Dr. James will be in
9/25 R Use of Truth Tables and Arguments 6.4
(Dr. James will be in
9/30 T Indirect Truth Tables 6.5
10/2 R Review Day, go over questions and get ready for first
unit test
10/7 T UNIT TEST #1
10/9 R Rules of Implication I 7.1
10/14 T No class meeting, Fall Break
10/16 R Rules of Implication II 7.2
10/21 T Rules of Replacement I 7.3
10/23 R Rules of Replacement II 7.4
10/28 T Deductive Strategies Review 7.1-7.4
10/30 R HOMEWORK PROBLEMS
BASED QUIZ ON FIRST PARTS OF
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log7.htm
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log7172.doc
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log7172.pdf
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log73.doc
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log73.pdf
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log74.doc
http://teach.valdosta.edu/chjames/log74.pdf
11/4 T Conditional Proof 7.5
11/6 R Indirect Proof 7.6
11/11 T Review Day for Unit Test #2
11/13 R UNIT TEST #2
11/18 T Philosophy
of Mind: Do various species have mental mapping in the hippocampus? Is there a physical, neurological, or
biochemical explanation for the experience of God?
11/20 R Oliver Sacks
Abortion issues and Roe v. Wade, is
it done with attention to Logic and Argument as we studied them in class?
http://www.fedworld.gov/supcourt/
The most recent supreme court
cases are also available at:
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/
Sexual Behavior and the Supreme
Court: Privacy
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/06/26/scotus.sodomy/
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_laws.htm
Sexual Behavior and the Supreme Court:
Harassment
http://www.valdosta.edu/~asantas/Business/harass.html
The University Context:
http://www.valdosta.edu/judicial/
http://www.valdosta.edu/legal/
http://www.valdosta.edu/legal/shp.shtml
12/2 T Begin discussion of standardized testing and college
admissions: Frontline, Inside the SAT
12/4 R University admissions, logic, and your future!
FINAL EXAMINATION: Wednesday, December 10, 10:15am in the
usual room.
To look up your other classes’ Fall final exams, see the online
guide at the link to Registration at the university homepage.
http://www.valdosta.edu/it/eas/sis/documents/Fall2008FinalExamSchedule.pdf