PHIL A155: Introduction to Logic
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 10/07/2020 |
| Top Code | 150900 - Philosophy |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
An introductory general education course focusing on the use of argumentation in both ordinary and academic discourse, with a particular focus on deductive logic. Emphasis on the role of formal and informal logic in the basic skills of oral communication (speech/listening) and written communication (reading/writing). Various deductive and inductive reasoning techniques will be identified, distinguished and evaluated for logical correctness and logical mistakes. Recommended for all humanities, social science, business and natural science majors, and for those planning to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. ADVISORY: Eligibility for ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU. C-ID: PHIL 110.C-ID: PHIL 110.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Students will be able to critically evaluate, assess and present types and properties of arguments and use logical techniques to determine and justify their structural features and claims.
Course Objectives
- 1. Extract arguments from ordinary-language passages.
- 2. Distinguish between various types of inductive and deductive arguments and their properties.
- 3. Determine the validity or invalidity of categorical syllogisms using Venn diagrams.
- 4. Determine the validity or invalidity of arguments in truth-functional logic using truth tables and natural-deduction proofs
Lecture Content
Arguments in Ordinary Language Identifying premises, conclusions and assumptions Distinguishing deductive from inductive arguments Deduction - Traditional Logic Categorical propositions Immediate inferences: the square of opposition, conversion, obversion, and contraposition Syllogisms, validity, and Venn diagrams Deduction - Truth-Functional Logic Translation, syntax, semantics Truth tables for individual statements - tautologies, self-contradictory statements, and contingent statements Comparing statements for consistency, logical equivalence, and contradiction Truth tables for arguments Natural deduction proofs
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lecture, discussion, written homework, peer evaluation
Reading Assignments
Students will spend approximately two hours per week on readings assigned from textbook(s)
Writing Assignments
Students will spend approxiamtely two hours per week on the following: Written assignments that analyze and critically evaluate various types of arguments Tests include writing out truth tables and various types of proofs
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will spend approxiamtely two hours per week on homework including textbook exercises, arguments and Venn diagrams, truth tables and various types of proofs
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Comparison of student achievement with minimum standards on quizzes, tests, written assignments and final exam.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Assessment of argument analyses, diagrams, truth tables, and proofs, in order to evaluate the students problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
Eligible Disciplines
Philosophy: Masters degree in philosophy OR bachelors degree in philosophy AND masters degree in humanities or religious studies, OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Hurley, P.J.,. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 13th ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2018 2. Required Copi, I.M., Cohen, C., and McMahon, K.. Introduction to Logic, 14th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, 2011