Admission requirements
Admission to this course is restricted to:
BA students in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives;
International pre-master’s students in Philosophy who are in possession of an admission statement, and for whom this course is part of their programme.
Description
Logic begins by asking what distinguishes good from bad arguments. In particular, it looks at what makes an argument well-constructed. We develop precise tools to investigate the notion of well-built argumentation. Two notions of particular importance are validity and provability. These tools are broadly mathematical in nature, but they can be applied to reasoning in natural languages, such as English or Dutch, as well. In addition, we can study the general properties of key concepts such as validity and provability. When we do so, we uncover fascinating results concerning the nature and limitations of reasoning itself. Logic thus gives us exact methods to investigate argumentation. Since argumentation is a cornerstone of the philosophical enterprise, formal logic is a core discipline within philosophy.
This course will serve as an introduction to the fundamentals of classical logic. Topics covered will include the syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logic, the formalization of English sentences and arguments in both languages, as well as methods for determining validity in propositional and predicate logic (truth tables, natural deduction). We will conclude by looking at the formalization of identity.
Course objectives
This course aims to teach students the basic concepts and tools for the formal study of arguments (validity, soundness, consistency), the syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logic, the formalization of English arguments using propositional and predicate logic, and techniques for proof in both systems.
Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:
- key concepts in logic (such as validity, soundness, and consistency), the syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logic, formalizations, natural deduction, and identity.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
translate natural-language sentences and arguments into propositional and/or predicate form and vice versa;
use formal methods of proving validity (such as truth tables and natural deduction), both for sentences and for whole arguments.
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, 2 hours per week;
Tutorials, 2 hours per week.
Class attendance is required for lectures/seminars as well as for tutorials.
Assessment method
Assessment
Weekly assignments on Brightspace (20%);
Midterm written examination (2-hours) (30%);
Final written examination (3-hours) (50%).
The questions on the assignments will be largely technical in nature and will consist in exercises to assess mastery of the skills taught (including translations, proofs, and short answers applying the concepts taught.)
Satisfactory completion of the weekly assignments is a prerequisite for sitting the exams.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average of the several subtests (see above). To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The resit consists of one examination for both the midterm and final examination, consisting of a written exam covering the entire course content. The mark for the resit will replace all previously earned marks for the midterm and final exam (80%). No separate resits will be offered for midterm tests.
Satisfactory completion of weekly assignments is a prerequisite for taking the resit and the grades for weekly assignments remain in place.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Volker Halbach (2010), The Logic Manual, Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199587841.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Huizinga.
Remarks
Not applicable.