PHIL 120: SYMBOLIC LOGIC I

Spring 2005

 

 

Professor:        Samuel C. Rickless                                         

Office:             HSS 8009                                                       

Telephone:      858-822-4910                                                

Office Hours:  T, Th 1pm-2pm (IN SOLIS 105), and Wednesdays 1pm-2pm (IN HSS 8009)                  

E-mail:             srickless@ucsd.edu                                                                            

 

 

 

Course Description and Course Objectives

 

In this course, we will learn how to determine, of any proposed argument that may be represented in first-order predicate logic, whether or not it is deductively valid.  To this end, we will learn how to symbolize arguments formulated in English by learning how to symbolize the English sentences that constitute the premises and conclusions of these arguments; we will learn the rules of a natural deduction system and learn how to apply those rules to determine the logical status of any argument symbolized in accordance with those rules; and we will also learn semantic methods for determining validity and invalidity.  Those who acquire the knowledge and skills taught in this course will be able to distinguish between good and bad reasoning in the most rigorous way possible.

 

[Note: If you are a philosophy major, PHIL 10 is a prerequisite for this course.  If you are not a philosophy major and you have not taken PHIL 10, you need to speak with me ASAP.]

 

 

Required Text

 

Kalish, D., R. Montague, and G. Mar. 1980. Logic: Techniques of Formal Reasoning, Second Edition (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovic).  Otherwise known as K&M.

 

The text is available for purchase at the UCSD Bookstore.  I have placed one copy on reserve in Geisel Library.

 

 

 

 

Course Units and Reading Assignments

 

Note: This is the order in which we will be covering the relevant material.  The unit numbers do not correspond to the lectures.

 

1. Symbolization in the Language of Chapter I

Reading: Chapter I, Introduction and Sections 1-2.  K&M, pp. 1-13.

 

2. Derivations in the System of Chapter I

Reading: Chapter I, Sections 3-6.  K&M, pp. 13-44.

 

3. Symbolization in the Language of Chapter II

Reading: Chapter II, Sections 1-2.  K&M, pp. 50-59.

 

4. Derivations in the System of Chapter II

Reading: Chapter II, Sections 3-4 & 7.  K&M, pp. 59-71 & 86-87.

 

5. Truth-Value Analysis of Sentences and Arguments

Reading: Chapter II, Sections 8-9.  K&M, pp. 87-105.

 

6. Symbolization in the Language of Chapter III

Reading: Chapter III, Sections 1 & 3-4.  K&M, pp. 117-123 & 126-139.

 

7. Bondage and Freedom

Reading: Chapter III, Section 2.  K&M, pp. 123-125.

 

8. Derivations in the System of Chapter III

Reading: Chapter III, Sections 5-7, 9 ,11 & 16.  K&M, pp. 139-149,  material on QN on p. 150, 153-161, 170-174 & 197-200.

 

9. Invalidity: Models

Reading: Chapter III, Section 12.  K&M, pp. 174-184.  (Skip the material on truth-functional expansions.)

 

10. Symbolization in the Language of Chapter IV

Reading: Chapter IV, Sections 1 & 3-4.  K&M, pp. 201-206 & 208-219.

 

11. Derivations in the System of Chapter IV

Reading: Chapter IV, Sections 2, 5-6 & 9.  K&M, pp. 206-208, 219-228 & 246-250.

 

12. Invalidity: Models

Reading: Chapter IV, Section 7. K&M, pp. 228-237.   (Skip the material on truth-functional expansions.)

 

 

            13. Symbolization in the Language of Chapter V

                        Reading: Chapter V, Sections 1-2.  K&M, pp. 263-269.

 

            14. Derivations in the System of Chapter V

                        Reading: Chapter V, Section 3.  K&M, pp. 269-275.

 

            15. Invalidity: Models

                        Reading: Chapter V, part of Section 5.  K&M, pp. 285-288.

 

 

Course Requirements

 

* Bi-Weekly Homework:        20%    

* Mid-Term:                           30%     [in class, probably November 3]

* Final:                                    50%     [Tuesday, December 6, 3pm-6pm]

 

 

Homework     

There will be 17 homework assignments in all.  The assignments are due before lecture by 1:50pm on 9/27, 9/29, 10/4, 10/6, 10/11, 10/13, 10/18, 10/20, 10/25, 10/27, 11/1, 11/8, 11/10, 11/15, 11/17, 11/22, and 11/29.)  Late assignments will not be accepted unless a valid excuse is communicated to me (if possible) substantially before the assignment is due.  [For how to submit homework assignments for credit, see Computer Program below.]

 

Computer Lab

SOLIS 105, open 24 hours, door code required evenings and nights (I will provide you

with the door code).  Avoid times when lab has been reserved for another course.  Lab information is available at:

 

http://acs.ucsd.edu/student/

 

[Simply click on Computer Labs and Servers, and look for Solis 105.]

 

To log on to a lab computer, type in your UCSD e-mail user name and password.  If your password is longer than eight characters, type in the first eight characters.  [If you donÕt

know your UCSD email password, find a computer that gives you access to the internet without requiring a passwordÑe.g., at the libraryÑand go to http://acs.ucsd.edu and click

on ÒNeed a PasswordÓ under ÒQuick LinksÓ.  With the help of your PAC number, you will be able to reset your email password.  If you donÕt know your UCSD email username,

click on ÒStudent Account ToolsÓ under ÒQuick LinksÓ, and then click on ÒLookup your account informationÓ.]

 

Computer Program: Logic2000

There is a computer program, Logic2K, associated with the course.  It is installed on the

server at the computer lab in SOLIS 105.  It is also available for remote use.  In order to use the program remotely, you need to download, install, and run Logic2K on a Windows PC that has access to the internet (if you have a Macintosh, you can download, install, and run the program if you have Virtual PC with Microsoft Office, a program which is available from Microsoft).  Instructions for downloading, installing, and running Logic2K are available at:

 

http://logic2k.humnet.ucla.edu/download.html

 

(Make sure you follow ALL the instructions.  You need to know your UCSD Student ID number and pick a Logic Password in order to register as a user.  DO NOT FORGET YOUR LOGIC PASSWORD.)

Homework assignments are accessible through the program (by clicking on

ÒAssignmentsÓ on the Main Menu) or by going to:

                                   

http://logic2k.humnet.ucla.edu/logicstudent.cfm

 

[Note that you must register as a user either at the lab or by downloading the program to

your computer in order to gain access to the Homework Assignments webpage.]

 

Each homework assignment is due before 1:50pm each Tuesday and Thursday (no assignment is due on Thursday, November 3, because of the mid-term exam).  Assignments

MUST be submitted OVER THE INTERNET to the Phil 120 database directly.  [So make sure that your computer is connected to the internet before you submit your homework to

the database.]  Your work will be automatically recorded in the database.  Instructions for using the program and for submitting homework to the database are available once you start

running the program.

 

Printing at the Computer Lab

Dot-matrix printing at the SOLIS computer lab is free.  There is a per page charge for

using the lab laserprinter.  To use the laserprinter, you must learn about your laserprinting account (info at AP&M 2113) and put down a deposit.

 

Blue Books    

You will need to bring large blue books to the mid-term and final examinations.  The exams

are open-note, open-book.  (But good luck to you if you donÕt memorize the relevant rules and strategies.)

 

 

Important Notes

 

* The Academic Honor Code must be observed in this course. 

 

* If accommodations are needed for a disability, please notify me as soon as possible.

 

* If any course requirement conflicts with a religious requirement or university-related obligation, please notify me as soon as possible.