PHIL 107

PHIL 107

Logic and Reasoning

Spring 2009

Instructor: Eric Lambert Meeting time: M-W-F, 2:40-3:55

Email: elambert@kzoo.edu Office hrs: TBA

Location: UL 307

TEXT

Irving M. Copi and Carl Cohen, Introduction to Logic, 13^th edition

GRADING

25% of the grade will be based on homework exercises, which will be due every Friday. Each of the three tests counts 25% (75% total). Grading is non-competitive (i.e., an absolute scale, no curve). Late assignments 0.25 points if unexcused; students who believe their cases exceptional should speak to the instructor about it, ahead of time if possible.

Test dates:

TEST I: Apr. 17

TEST II: May 08

TEST III: Jun. 10 (8 am – 11 am)

EXERCISES

The ability to do logic is a skill learned only through regular practice. Many find it helpful to do not only the assigned exercises, but also the starred exercises, for which answers are supplied. It is also a good idea initially to attempt the exercises without looking at the back of the text; otherwise one tends not really to learn the skill, as many discover when, without having the book to rely on, they take an exam. For the same reason, students who discuss exercises together should be wary of accepting each other’s answers without understanding. A second reason for this is that students who do not figure things out for themselves tend to repeat each other’s errors. It can be worthwhile for students to work together, since you learn from one another; but no one should blindly follow another. And though working together can be beneficial, do not ever simply copy each other’s work.

Each homework assignment will be graded on a 4.0 scale. At the end of the quarter, all of the assignments will be cumulatively averaged on a 4.0 scale. This total will count as 25% of the final grade. Assigned problems are in boldface.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required. Four or more unexcused absences result in 0.5 points being deducted from a student’s final grade (so if your final grade is 2.75 and you have four unexcused absences, you will receive a 2.25). Lateness should be avoided. Since tardiness is usually disruptive, excessive lateness (say, a pattern or habit of arriving late) will result in an unexcused absence.

Work Schedule for PHIL 107: Spring, 2009 Lambert

Week

Date

Topic

Reading

Exercises

Mar 30

Apr 01

Apr 03

Introduction

Arguments; other basic concepts

Validity and soundness

4-26

26-35

10: 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14; 23: 2, 8, 10

10: 3, 9, 15; 23: 4, 6, 16 (2 pt. per)

Apr 06

Apr 08

Apr 10

Arguments; and other uses of language

Informal Fallacies

71-85

118-141

141-157

76: A – 1, 2, 8; B – 2, 4. 81: 2, 13

136-141: A – 3, 7; B – 1, 5, 9

76: A – 3, 6; B – 8, 16 (2 pt. per)

81: 6, 8, 9 (3 pt. per)

III

Apr 13

Apr 15

Apr 17

Informal Fallacies

Review

TEST I

157-175

_____

155: 2, 5, 6, 7; 167: A – 3, 4, 5, 6; C – 4, 6, 7

Review fallacies; go through sample exam

Apr 20

Apr 22

Apr 24

Definitions

Categorical Propositions

84-101

102-109

180-193

85: B – 3, 7, 12; 99: A – 1, 2; 101: C/D – 3, 7

110: A – 3, 7, 15, 18; B – 2, 3, 4, 14

110: B – 6, 13; C – 11, 12, 27 (2 pt. per)

Apr 27

Apr 29

May 01

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

198-205; 215-223

224-244

244-259

187: 2, 3, 4, 6; 193: 2, 3, 4, 6; 205: A – 2, B – 2, C – 4.

222: 2, 6, 12; 229: 3, 8; 233: 3, 7

205: A – 3, 4; B – 3, 4; C – 2; 222 – 3, 4, 7, 17, 18 (3 pts. per)

243: B – 3, 4, 7, 8

May 04

May 06

May 08

Syllogisms in ordinary language

Review

TEST II

267-287

_____

253: B – 2, 3, 4, 8; 254: C – 3, 4, 7, 8

271: 2, 3, 4; 280: 3, 4, 17, 19, 23; 284: B – 2, 4, 13; go through sample exam, time permitting

VII

May 11

May 13

May 15

Symbolic Logic

Basic Argument Forms

298-313

315-326; 331-339

342-355

302: 2, 3, 8, 9; 310: 6, 7, 8

327: A – 3, 9, 17; B – 17, 23; D – 4, 14, 24

339: A – 9, 18; C – 3, 7, 8, 24 (2 pt. per); 345: c, f, i, k,

VIII

May 18

May 20

May 22

Basic Argument Forms

Statement Forms

Formal Proofs of Validity

342-355

357-361

367-379

345: Group B, construct truth tables for 6, 8, 11; 355: B – 3, 6; C – 8

362: A – 7, 8, 9; B – 7; C -- 4

355: B – 8; C – 4; 362: B – 8 (10 pt. per)

380: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9; 382: 1, 4, 7

May 25

May 27

May 29

** Memorial Day **

Formal Proofs

380-390; 393-398

400-414

385: 1, 7, 13; 387: A – 2, 4, 6; 389: B – 2, 4; 391: C – 3, 7

389: B – 3, 9; C – 1 (6 pt. per)

399 – 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; 406: A – 1, 2, 3; B – 1, 11, 13

Jun 01

Jun 03

Jun 05

Invalidity and Inconsistency

Review and practice

421-427;

435-436

_____

411: C – 2, 6, 7; D – 2, 3, 6; 416: E – 1, 4, 8, 19

417: F – 6, 7, 14 (10 pt. per); 423: 3, 4, 6; 427: A – 8

428: B – 2 and 4 (these are proofs), 3 and 8 (for these, assign truth values), 11 (proof)

Final

Exam

Jun 10

The Final Exam is scheduled from 8 am till 11 am

The final exam is non-cumulative. It will address material covered since the previous exam (i.e., after May 08).