PRINCIPLES OF REASONING AND ARGUMENTATION

PRINCIPLES OF REASONING AND ARGUMENTATION (LOGIC) Spring 2008

Dr. Christine A. James

Philosophy 2020

Section A TR 8:00-9:15am WH 104 CRN 20433

Office: 110 Ashley Hall

Office Hours: MTWTh 2:00pm-3:00pm, 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/2020Spring2008.htm

Course Content: What does it take to express an idea convincingly and well? 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.

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

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. Incorporate philosophical positions in oral and written

communications

2. 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.

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, 9^th or 10th 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.)

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 = 15%

1 Final Exam at 25% = 25%

Total = 100%

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).

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.

Month/Day Topics Reading Assignment and Problem Choices

1/8 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

1/10 R Statements/Arguments 1.1-1.2

1/15 T More Statements and Arguments 1.2-1.3

1/17 R Deduction and Induction 1.3 - 1.4

1/22 T Evaluating Arguments, Language of Symbolic Logic 1.4

1/24 R QUIZ ON CHAPTER 1 (After the Quiz, begin reading in the next sections, come in next class having already read.)

1/29 T Begin Propositional Logic 6.1

1/31 R Focus The Nation Special Activity

2/5 T Translation into Symbolic Language (PL) 6.1

2/7 R Truth Functions 6.2

2/12 T Truth Tables 6.3

2/14 R Use of Truth Tables and Arguments 6.4

2/19 T Indirect Truth Tables 6.5

2/21 R Review Day, go over questions and get ready for first unit test

2/26 T UNIT TEST #1

2/28 R Rules of Implication I 7.1

3/4 T Rules of Implication II 7.2

3/6 R Rules of Replacement I 7.3

3/11 T Spring Break, No Class

3/13 R Spring Break, No Class

3/18 T Rules of Replacement II 7.4

3/20 R Deductive Strategies Review 7.1-7.4

3/25 T HOMEWORK PROBLEMS BASED QUIZ ON FIRST PARTS OF CH. 7

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

3/27 R Conditional Proof 7.5

4/1 T Indirect Proof 7.6

4/3 R Review Day for Unit Test #2

4/8 T UNIT TEST #2

4/10 R 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?

4/15 T Oliver Sacks

4/17 R Come in ready to discuss Supreme Court decisions! 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