Philosophy Department


1200 Academy St. Kalamazoo, MI 49006

PHI 420

Introduction to Philosophy: Logic and Reasoning

Fall 1999

Professor Ken Richman


Course Goals
This course will introduce you to philosophy through the study of logic.  By the end of the course, you will have working knowledge of the basic vocabulary and methods of logic, including Aristotelian syllogistic logic and modern propositional and predicate calculus.  You will be able to identify arguments in texts.  You will be able to express arguments in logical notation (using the predicate calculus), and you will be able to evaluate arguments for validity.

Required Text

Hurley, Patrick J.  A Concise Introduction to Logic.  Sixth Edition.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1997.
 
 

Required Work

In order to pass this course you must:
Grading
Your grade will depend equally on four factors: the midterm exam, the final exam, the problem sets and the two written assignments. The frequency and quality of your class participation can also affect your final grade for the course, especially if your average for the course falls between two grades.

Problem sets and instructions for the short written assignments will be distributed in class.  Extensions will be granted only for true emergencies, serious illness or religious holidays when the instructor is notified and agrees in advance of the deadline.  There will be no extensions granted after the deadlines.  Assignments handed in late without prior permission of the instructor will receive a grade of F.  Students who fail to attend an exam without prior permission of the instructor will receive a course grade of F.
 
 

Schedule

 
  Reading Topic Assignment
Week 1 Chapter 1  Basic concepts: arguments, validity and soundness Friday: Problem Set 1 due
Week 2 Chapter 3 Informal Fallacies, Introduction to categorical propositions Friday: Problem Set 2 due; Instructions for First Written Assignment distributed
Week 3 Chapter 4  Categorical Propositions Friday: Problem Set 3 due
Week 4 Chapter 5 Categorical Syllogisms Friday: First Written Assignment due
Week 5 Chapter 6 Introduction to Propositional Calculus; Review Friday: Midterm Exam
Week 6 Chapter 6  Propositional Calculus Friday: Problem Set 4 due; Instructions for Second Written Assignment distributed
Week 7 Chapter 7 Natural Deduction Friday: Problem Set 5 due
Week 8 Chapter 8 Predicate Calculus  Friday: Second Written Assignment due
Week 9 Chapter 8 Relational Predicates Friday: Problem Set 6 due
Week 10   Review  
Exam Week     Final Exam
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Copyright 1999 Kalamazoo College. All rights reserved.
Updated 19 July 1999