PHL 321, Symbolic Logic                                                                                                    Dr. Poston

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

Office Hours: MWF 1 to 2, TR 11 to 12 & 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 logical relations of entailment and consistency.  Additionally, we shall examine further developments in logic by previewing axiom systems and modal, deontic, & epistemic logic.  Finally we shall apply these techniques by reading and thinking through Thomas Morris’s book The Logic of God Incarnate.  This book provides an excellent example of the utility in applying formal methods to entrenched philosophical problems.

 

Texts:    

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

 

Morris, Thomas V. The Logic of God Incarnate Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2001.

 

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 clearly written homework.  I recommend typing the homework if your handwriting is notorious.  I will not grade any homework that I cannot easily read.

Tentative Schedule:

 

 

Sections

Reading

Lectures

HW

Monday, August 20

Sentential Logic

Introduction to Logic pp. 1-20

 

 

Wednesday, August 22

Sentential Logic

The Structure of Sentential Logic pp. 21-32

 

 

Friday, August 24

Sentential Logic

Computing Truth Values pp. 33-50

 

 

Monday, August 27

Sentential Logic

Computing Truth Values pp. 33-50

 

HW1

Wednesday, August 29

Sentential Logic

Symbolizing English Sentences pp. 51-73

 

 

Friday, August 31

Sentential Logic

Symbolizing English Sentences pp. 51-73

 

HW2

Wednesday, September 05

Sentential Logic

Truth Tables for Testing Validity pp. 74-94

 

 

Friday, September 07

Sentential Logic

Truth Tables for Testing Validity pp. 74-94

 

 

Monday, September 10

Sentential Logic

Further Applications pp. 95-112

 

HW3

Wednesday, September 12

Sentential Logic

Further Applications pp. 95-112

 

 

Friday, September 14

Sentential Logic

Eight Basic Inference Rules pp. 113-146

 

 

Monday, September 17

Sentential Logic

Replacement Rules pp. 147-174

 

HW4

Wednesday, September 19

Sentential Logic

Replacement Rules pp. 147-174

 

 

Friday, September 21

Exam 1

Exam 1

 

 

Monday, September 24

Monadic Predicate Logic

Go over Exam

 

 

Wednesday, September 26

Monadic Predicate Logic

CP & IP pp. 175-199

 

 

Friday, September 28

Monadic Predicate Logic

CP & IP pp. 175-199

 

 

Monday, October 01

Monadic Predicate Logic

Singular Sentences pp. 201-211

 

HW5

Wednesday, October 03

Monadic Predicate Logic

Quantifiers pp. 212-224

 

 

Friday, October 05

Monadic Predicate Logic

Categorical Propositions pp 225-248

 

 

Monday, October 08

Monadic Predicate Logic

Complex Subjects and Predicates pp. 249-262

 

HW6

Wednesday, October 10

Monadic Predicate Logic

Quantifier Form & TF compounds pp. 263-272

 

 

Friday, October 12

Monadic Predicate Logic

Quantifier Form & TF compounds pp. 263-272

 

 

Monday, October 15

Monadic Predicate Logic

Proofs in predicate logic pp. 273-298

 

HW7

Wednesday, October 17

Monadic Predicate Logic

Proofs in predicate logic pp. 273-298

 

 

Friday, October 19

Monadic Predicate Logic

Proofs in predicate logic pp. 273-298

 

 

Monday, October 22

Monadic Predicate Logic

Invalidity in Quantifier Logic pp. 299-312

 

HW8

Wednesday, October 24

Monadic Predicate Logic

Invalidity in Quantifier Logic pp. 299-312

 

 

Friday, October 26

Exam 2

Exam 2

 

 

Monday, October 29

 

Go over exam

 

 

Wednesday, October 31

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

 

Friday, November 02

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

 

Monday, November 05

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

HW9

Wednesday, November 07

Relational Predicate Logic

Symbolization in Relational PL pp. 313-340

 

 

Friday, November 09

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs & Validity in Relational PL pp. 341-354

 

 

Monday, November 12

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs & Validity in Relational PL pp. 341-354

 

HW10

Wednesday, November 14

Relational Predicate Logic

Identity & Definite Descriptions pp. 355-370

 

 

Friday, November 16

Relational Predicate Logic

Identity & Definite Descriptions pp. 355-370

 

 

Monday, November 19

Relational Predicate Logic

Proofs Involving Identity pp. 371-381

 

HW11

Monday, November 26

Application

The Logic of God Incarnate, pp. 9-32

 

 

Wednesday, November 28

Application

The Logic of God Incarnate, pp. 33-70

 

 

Friday, November 30

Application

The Logic of God Incarnate, pp. 71-107

 

HW12

Monday, December 03

Application

The Logic of God Incarnate, pp. 108-162

 

 

Monday, December 10

Final Exam 10:30-12:30