PHL 321, Symbolic Logic                                                                                              Dr. Poston

MWF 11:15-12:05                                                                                                          Office: HUMB 124

Office Hours: 2 to 3pm daily & by appt.                                                                         Phone: 460-6248

Email: mylastname@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Course Webpage: http://www.southalabama.edu/philosophy/poston/Logic321/logic321.htm 

 

Course Description: In this course we will learn first-order relational predicate logic with identity.  This is a very powerful tool for symbolizing claims and arguments as well as studying the important logical relations.  Additionally, we shall examine further developments in logic by previewing axiom systems and modal, deontic, & epistemic logic. 

 

Texts:  

Klenk, V. Understanding Symbolic Logic (5th Edition) Prentice Hall, 2007. 

 

Course Goals and Objectives:

 

  1. Develop your ability to symbolize claims & arguments in predicate logic with identity.  At the end of the course you should be able to take a significant philosophical argument or claim, symbolize it, and determine whether the argument is valid or the claim consistent.  

  2. Develop your understanding of central logical concepts and techniques.  You will learn methods to determine consistency of sets of sentences and validity for arguments.  You will learn a natural deduction system that will enable you to prove that an argument is valid.  Additionally this skill will help you to formulate good arguments.  

  3. You will learn how to apply logical techniques to philosophical problems.  You will learn how symbolization can help to demonstrate that a set of sentences is inconsistent.  You will learn how to assign meanings to arbitrary predicates in order to show that a set of sentences is consistent.  You will also learn how to look for a consistent set of sentences given constraints on the meanings of predicates. 

Course Policies and Procedures:

 

Attendance: Attendance in lectures is expected.  If you want to receive a good grade in the course then you will need to come to class.  Each day I will introduce new material and each class builds on the previous class.  If you must miss class get the notes from one of your fellow students and make sure you understand the notes.

 

Make-up Work: Only in exceptional circumstances will I reschedule homework assignments or exams.  If you *have* to miss an exam contact me as soon as possible.  You must notify me at least one week prior to the exam.  If, for example, you break your arm before class then take an aspirin, come to class, and go to the hospital after class.  After all, you still have one good arm to write with! 

Disabilities Policy: If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify me and provide certification from Disability Services (Office of Special Students Services). The Office of Special Students Services is located in the Student Center, Room 270, Phone 460-7212.

 

Academic Dishonesty Policy: Academic dishonesty includes cheating on tests and homework as well as plagiarism.  If you engage in academic dishonesty, I will notify you that you will receive an ‘F’ in the course. Upon being notified, you have five days to submit a written request to the department chairperson for a hearing on the matter, if you wish to have one. If no hearing request is made, or if the decision from the hearing goes against you, you will receive a course grade of ‘F’. Please see the Student Academic Conduct Policy of the University for details.

 

Note on homework:  Naturally you may study with other students, but do your homework on your own. In the past I have discovered plagiarized homework: in such cases the above-stated policy applies.  Also, homework is due at the beginning of class on the day listed.  I accept only typed homework. 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

            3 Exams, each 25% of your total grade 

           

            Homework assignments, collectively worth 25% of your total grade

 

 

Tentative Schedule:

 

 

Sections

Reading

HW

Monday, August 17

Sentential Logic

Introduction to Logic pp. 1-20

 

Wednesday, August 19

Sentential Logic

The Structure of Sentential Logic pp. 21-32

 

Friday, August 21

Sentential Logic

Computing Truth Values pp. 33-50

 

Monday, August 24

Sentential Logic

Computing Truth Values, pp. 33-50

HW1

Wednesday, August 26

Sentential Logic

Symbolizing English Sentences pp. 51-73

Friday, August 28

Sentential Logic

Symbolizing English Sentences pp. 51-73

Monday, August 31, 2009

Sentential Logic

Truth Tables for Testing Validity pp. 74-94

HW2

Wednesday, September 02

Sentential Logic

Truth Tables for Testing Validity pp. 74-94

Friday, September 04

Sentential Logic

Further Applications pp. 95-112

 

Monday, September 07

LABOR DAY

LABOR DAY

 

Wednesday, September 09

Sentential Logic

Eight Basic Inference Rules pp. 113-146

HW3

Friday, September 11

Sentential Logic

Eight Basic Inference Rules pp. 113-146

 

Monday, September 14

Sentential Logic

Replacement Rules pp. 147-174

HW4

Wednesday, September 16

Sentential Logic

Proofs with Replacement Rules

 

Friday, September 18

Exam 1

Exam 1

Exam 1

Monday, September 21

Sentential Logic

Go over exam

 

Wednesday, September 23

Sentential Logic

CP & IP pp. 175-199

 

Friday, September 25

No Class

ID CON 2009

 

Monday, September 28

Sentential Logic

IP & Proving Theorems pp. 175-199

HW5

Wednesday, September 30

Sentential Logic

Proving Theorems & Soundness and Completeness pp. 175-199

 

Friday, October 02

No class

Alabama Philosophical Society Meeting

 

Monday, October 05

Monadic Predicate Logic

Singular Sentences pp. 201-211

HW6

Wednesday, October 09

Monadic Predicate Logic

Quantifiers pp. 212-224

 

Friday, October 09

Monadic Predicate Logic

Categorical Propositions pp. 225-248

 

Monday, October 12

Monadic Predicate Logic

Complex Subjects and Predicates pp. 249-262

HW7

Wednesday, October 14

Monadic Predicate Logic

Quantifier Form & TF compounds pp. 263-272

 

Friday, October 16

Monadic Predicate Logic

Proofs in predicate logic pp. 273-298

 

Monday, October 19

Monadic Predicate Logic

Proofs in predicate logic pp. 273-298

HW8

Wednesday, October 21

Review Day

Review Day

 

Friday, October 23

Exam 2

Exam 2

 

Monday, October 26

 

Go over exam

 

Wednesday, October 28

Monadic Predicate Logic

Invalidity in Quantifier Logic pp. 299-312

 

Friday, October 30

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

Monday, November 02

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

HW9

Wednesday, November 04

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

Friday, November 06

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 341-354

 

Monday, November 09

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs & Validity in Relational PL pp. 341-354

HW10

Wednesday, November 11

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs & Validity in Relational PL pp. 341-354

 

Friday, November 13

Relational Predicate Logic

Invalidity in RPL & Proving Theorems pp. 341-354

 

Monday, November 16

Relational Predicate Logic

Identity & Definite Descriptions pp. 355-370

HW11

Wednesday, November 18

Relational Predicate Logic

Identity & Definite Descriptions pp. 355-370

 

Friday, November 20

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs Involving Identity pp. 371-381

 

Monday, November 23

Relational Predicate Logic

HANDOUT FINAL EXAM

HW12

Monday, December 01

Relational Predicate Logic

FINAL EXAM DUE