PHL
121, Introduction to Logic Dr.
Poston
Section
101 MWF 12:20 – 1:10 Office:
HUMB 124
Section
102 MWF 11:15 – 12:05 Phone:
460-6248
HUMB
0112 Office
Hours:
Email:
mylastname@jaguar1.usouthal.edu MF
9:15am to 9:45am; MWF 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Course
Webpage: http://www.southalabama.edu/philosophy/poston/logic121.htm
TR
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Course Description: Irrationality is pervasive. Rationality is hard to obtain. This course will examine pitfalls of
irrationality and we will learn how best to correct those errors and achieve
rationality. As we shall learn this is very hard
because irrational behavior is deeply ingrained in human nature. You will become acquainted with experimental
results in psychology that illustrate deep irrationality. Also, you shall learn common argumentative
fallacies and basic errors in critical thinking. On the positive side we shall examine models
of good reasoning and try to hone our ability to gather good evidence,
formulate good arguments, and become a more discerning person.
Course Goals and Objectives:
1.
Stop behaving irrationally and start behaving
rationally.
2.
Learn common pitfalls to good thinking.
3.
Learn general strategies to maximize rationality.
4.
Cultivate the ability to gather good evidence &
formulate good arguments.
5.
Learn how to think more clearly about complex
issues.
Evaluation:
3 Exams: Each exam is worth 20% of your final grade.
Homework: There are 11 homework assignments.
The lowest homework assignment will be dropped. Collectively the homework counts for 20% of
your total grade. No late homework
will be accepted for whatever reason.
Homework is due at the start of each class and it must be typed.
Quizzes: There are 11
quizzes. The lowest quiz score will be
dropped. Collectively the quizzes count
for 10% of your total grade
Participation &
Class Attendance: 10% of total grade. I will take attendance every day.
Your
score is determined as follows:
§
2 or fewer unexcused
absences: 10/10
§
3 unexcused absences: 8/10
§
4 unexcused absences: 6/10
§
5-6 unexcused absences: 4/10
§
More than 6 unexcused
absences: 0%
§ Being late to class counts as ½ an
absence. Routine lateness is
unacceptable. If you can’t make it to
class on time then drop this course.
Text:
Lewis Vaughn. The Power of
Critical Thinking. Oxford, . Campus Bookstore
Student Resource Website: http://www.us.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195320411/student_resources/
Teaching Assistant: Jason Shepard
Email:
jason.shepard[AT]Comcast[dot]net
Jason
is available for tutoring in the philosophy main office. His hours are: M & F (10 to 11am); W
(1:15pm to 2:45pm); and Sunday (3 to 5pm in Hum 112). Contact him by email if those times do not
work for you.
Course Policies and
Procedures:
Attendance: Attendance in
lectures is expected and required. 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.
There is a strong correlation between attendance & good grades.
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.
Schedule: (This schedule will change as the class
progresses. Use the current schedule on
the course webpage.)
|
Dates |
Topic |
Reading |
HW & Quizzes & Experiments |
|
Monday,
January 12 |
Introduction
to critical thinking |
Ch.
1: The Power of Critical Thinking |
Milgram experiment |
|
Wednesday,
January 14 |
Introduction
to critical thinking |
Ch.
1: The Power of Critical Thinking |
|
|
Friday,
January 16 |
Impediments
to critical reasoning |
Ch.
2: The “Environment” of Critical Thinking |
HW
1 |
|
Monday,
January 19 |
Martin Luther King
Holiday |
Martin Luther King
Holiday |
Martin Luther King
Holiday |
|
Wednesday,
January 21 |
Impediments
to critical reasoning |
Ch.
2: The “Environment” of Critical Thinking |
|
|
Friday,
January 23 |
Argument
basics; judging arguments |
Ch.
2: The “Environment” of Critical Thinking |
Quiz
1 |
|
Monday,
January 26 |
Argument
basics; judging arguments |
Ch.
3: Making Sense of Arguments |
HW
2 |
|
Wednesday,
January 28 |
Argument
patterns; long arguments |
Ch.
3: Making Sense of Arguments |
|
|
Friday,
January 30 |
Argument
patterns; long arguments |
Ch.
3: Making Sense of Arguments |
Quiz
2 |
|
Monday,
February 02 |
Argument
patterns; long arguments |
Ch.
3: Making Sense of Arguments |
HW
3 |
|
Wednesday,
February 04 |
Experts,
evidence, personal experience |
Ch.
4: Reasons for Belief and Doubt |
|
|
Friday,
February 06 |
News
media, advertising |
Ch.
4: Reasons for Belief and Doubt |
Quiz
3 |
|
Monday,
February 09 |
News
media, advertising |
Ch.
4: Reasons for Belief and Doubt |
HW
4 |
|
Wednesday,
February 11 |
Truth
Merchants Video |
Truth
Merchants Video |
Truth
Merchants Video |
|
Friday,
February 13 |
Exam
1 |
Exam
1 |
Exam
1 |
|
Monday,
February 16 |
Fallacies
of irrelevant premises |
Ch.
5: Faulty Reasoning |
|
|
Wednesday,
February 18 |
Fallacies
of irrelevant premises |
Ch.
5: Faulty Reasoning |
|
|
Friday,
February 20 |
Fallacies
of unacceptable premises |
Ch.
5: Faulty Reasoning |
Quiz
4 |
|
Monday,
February 23 |
Fallacies
of unacceptable premises |
Ch.
5: Faulty Reasoning |
HW
5 |
|
Wednesday,
February 25 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
6: Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic |
|
|
Friday,
February 27 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
6: Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic |
Quiz
5 |
|
Monday,
March 02 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
6: Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic |
HW
6 |
|
Wednesday,
March 04 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
6: Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic |
|
|
Friday,
March 06 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
6: Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic |
Quiz
6 |
|
Monday,
March 09 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
7: Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic |
HW
7 |
|
Wednesday,
March 11 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
7: Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic |
|
|
Friday, March 13 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
7: Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic |
|
|
Monday,
March 16- Friday
March 20 |
Spring Break |
Spring Break |
Spring Break |
|
Monday,
March 23 |
Deductive
reasoning |
Ch.
7: Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic |
Deductive
reasoning |
|
Wednesday,
March 25 |
Review
for Exam 2 |
Review
for Exam 2 |
HW
8 |
|
Friday,
March 27 |
Exam
2 |
Exam
2 |
|
|
Monday,
March 30 |
Enumerative
induction, opinion polls |
Ch.
8: Inductive Reasoning |
Quiz 7 |
|
Wednesday,
April 01 |
Enumerative
induction, opinion polls |
Ch.
8: Inductive Reasoning |
|
|
Friday,
April 03 |
Analogical
arguments |
Ch.
8: Inductive Reasoning |
Quiz
8 |
|
Monday,
April 06 |
Causal
arguments |
Ch
8: Inductive Reasoning |
HW
9 |
|
Wednesday,
April 08 |
Explanations,
inferences, theory criteria |
Ch.
9: Inference to the Best Explanation |
|
|
Friday,
April 10 |
Explanations,
inferences, theory criteria |
Ch.
9: Inference to the Best Explanation |
Quiz
9 |
|
Monday,
April 13 |
Scientific
method, testing, theories |
Ch.
10: Judging Scientific Theories |
HW
10 |
|
Wednesday,
April 15 |
12
Angry Men |
12
Angry Men |
|
|
Friday,
April 17 |
12
Angry Men |
12
Angry Men |
|
|
Monday,
April 20 |
Scientific
method, testing, theories |
Ch.
10: Judging Scientific Theories |
HW
11 |
|
Wednesday,
April 22 |
Judging
scientific theories, weird theories |
Ch.
10: Judging Scientific Theories |
|
|
Friday,
April 24 |
Moral
reasoning, moral theories |
Ch.
10: Judging Scientific Theories |
Quiz
10 |
|
Monday,
April 27 |
Moral
reasoning, moral theories |
Ch.
11: Judging Moral Arguments and Theories |
HW
12 |
|
Wednesday,
Aril 29 |
Moral
reasoning, moral theories |
Ch.
11: Judging Moral Arguments and Theories |
|
|
Friday,
May 01 |
Moral
reasoning, moral theories |
Ch.
11: Judging Moral Arguments and Theories |
Quiz
11 |
|
Monday,
May 04 |
Final
Exam for 12:20 class |
Final
Exam for 12:20 class |
Time:
1:00pm to 3:00pm |
|
Wednesday,
May 06 |
Final
Exam for 11:15 class |
Final
Exam for 11:15 class |
Time:
10:30am to 12:30pm |