SYLLABUS
PHIL 145 Elementary Logic & Critical Thinking
Fall 2015
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00-9:50am
Valparaiso University Center for the Arts 1409
Instructor: Dr. Philip Woodward
Office: Arts and Sciences Building 324
Office phone: x6488
Email: philip.woodward@valpo.edu
Office Hours: 1-3pm, MWF
Teaching Assistant: Nicole Thompson
Email: nicole.thompson@valpo.edu
Office Hours: 7-9pm, Th
Course Description
Logic is the formal study of reasoning—the support for, or generation of, new ideas by
old ones. Studying logic means learning how to tell whether one idea follows from
another, whether one idea provides evidence for another, and so forth.
Sometimes reasoning is deductive, meaning that the connection between one’s evidence
and the conclusion one draws from that evidence is completely watertight; the evidence
guarantees the truth of the conclusion. It is this sort of reasoning that logic studies (at
least, the type of logic about which we will learn in this class). Logic is thus much like
math, as it focuses on what can be proven from what. It is also much like math in that it is
both (a) cool and interesting in its own right (and the more time you spend with it, the
more cool and interesting it becomes), and also (b) useful as a guide for making
inferences in the real world.
Sometimes reasoning is not deductive, but rather inductive, meaning that the connection
between one’s evidence and the conclusion one draws from that evidence is not
completely watertight; the conclusion is likely, given the evidence. In fact, almost all
everyday reasoning is like this. Logic provides something of an idealized model for such
everyday reasoning.
Our purpose in this course will be to explore both types of reasoning—deductive and
inductive. In the first two-thirds of the course, we will study formal logic, as a way to
understand deductive reasoning. In the final third we will turn our attention to inductive
reasoning, including the patterns of reasoning used in scientific, moral and political
disputes. What you learn in this class will empower you to reason well, and to discern
when others, who try to influence your beliefs, are reasoning well or poorly.
Some aspects of logic are intuitive and simple. Other aspects are extremely confusing and
difficult. Logic is not the sort of thing you either innately grasp or innately fail to grasp. It
is, rather, the sort of thing you can master if and only if you work at it diligently.
Course Objectives
 Developing a vocabulary for recognizing, reconstructing, and evaluating
arguments
 Learning how to use formal logic to construct proofs and test deductive inferences
 Becoming acquainted with the ways evidence can be used well or poorly in
scientific, moral and political discourse
Course Requirements / Grading
Regular attendance
Homework
First Exam
Second Exam
Final Exam
Argumentation Project
30%
15%
15%
20%
20%
Homework is due once per week, usually (but not always—see the schedule!) on
Mondays. Typically, homework assignments will include three sets of
questions/problems, one for each class session in the previous week. I will make the
day’s homework set available on Blackboard before class that day (at the latest).
Homework assignments will be graded in one of two ways: Traditional grading: each
correctly answered homework item earns 1-4 points, and each incorrectly answered item
earns no points (or in rare cases partial points). Adequacy-based grading: the assignment
earns (a) full credit if complete and demonstrates competence in relevant concepts/skills;
(b) 80% credit if complete but demonstrates substantial error or misunderstanding; (c)
60% credit if incomplete and demonstrates pervasive error or misunderstanding. I will not
announce ahead of item which manner of grading will be employed on a given
assignment.
The Argumentation Project will involve (1) a 2-3pp. analysis of the arguments in an
article on a controversial topic, (2) commentary on this analysis from four of your peers,
and (3) a 4-6pp. dialogue about the topic. The last several class meetings will be devoted
to this project, so under no circumstances should you plan to be absent on those days.
More detailed instructions for this project will be available on Blackboard later in the
semester.
Required Texts


Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic, Twelfth Edition. Cengage
Learning, 2011. ISBN: 9781285196541
Other readings available on Blackboard
Course Policies
Attendance:
It is expected that you will be in attendance, on time, and prepared for every scheduled
class session.
While there are no excused absences in this class*, you are entitled to two “free”
absences. Each additional absence will result in a 2% deduction from your final grade.
Chronic tardiness will result in grade penalties as well.
*Absences owing to participation in VU athletic events, religious observances, or grave
medical emergencies do not count toward your “free” absences, if these absences are
properly documented.
Late work:
Homework is due in person at the beginning of class. No late work will be accepted,
except in cases of family emergency or hospitalization (proper documentation required).
Exams cannot be taken late, apart from an emergency circumstance, later documented. If
you have a schedule conflict, you may take an exam earlier than scheduled. However,
you must notify me at least ten days in advance to arrange for an alternate day/time.
Honor Code:
The Honor Code must be written and signed on every assignment and exam. In accord
with the Code, all students must pledge not to give or receive unauthorized aid.
Additionally, students are obligated to report violations of the Honor Code to the Honor
Council. Violations may result in failing this course or in being suspended or expelled
from the University. For details see:
http://www.valpo.edu/student/honorcouncil/honorcode.php.
In this course, unauthorized aid includes:
• Collaboration of any kind on exams.
• Consulting any supporting materials during exams, other than those explicitly
sanctioned by the instructor.
• Attempting to pass off someone else’s work as your own.
• Copying homework.
Students are, however, encouraged to assist one another in understanding course material
and in solving difficult homework problems.
Email and class cancelation:
Email is the best way to communicate with me. Expect a reply within 24 hours on
weekdays, and inconsistent replies on the weekends. I do not answer student questions
about exams in the 24 hours preceding the exam.
If I need to communicate with you, I will use your Valpo email address. This is also how
I will alert the class in the event of an unscheduled class cancelation. I expect that you are
checking your Valpo email at least once per day.
Academic support services:
If you find that you are struggling or feeling confused or frustrated, come to office hours
or email me requesting an appointment. The next step is to use the Academic Success
Center (ASC) online directory (valpo.edu/academicsuccess) or contact the ASC
(academic.success@valpo.edu) to help point you in the right direction for academic
support resources for this course. Valpo’s learning centers (Writing Center, Language
Resource Center, and Academic Success Center) offer excellent support services free of
charge.
Disability support:
Please contact Mr. Zebadiah Hall at Disability Support Services
(zebadiah.hall@valpo.edu), if you believe you have a disability that might require a
reasonable accommodation in order for you to perform as expected in this class. Mr. Hall
will work with you and me directly to make sure you receive any reasonable
accommodation needed as the result of a disability.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Introducing Arguments
W 8/26
F 8/28
1.1 Arguments, Premises, and Conclusions, 1.2 Recognizing Arguments
M 8/31
W 9/2
F 9/4
*HW1 due
1.3 Deduction and Induction, 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength,
Cogency
1.5 Argument Forms: Proving Invalidity
M 9/7
W 9/9
*HW2 due / 1.6 Extended Arguments
Clifford, “The Ethics of Belief” [BLACKBOARD]
Propositional Logic
F 9/11
6.1 Symbols and Translation
M 9/14
W 9/16
F 9/18
*HW3 due / 6.2 Truth Functions, 6.3 Truth Tables for Propositions
6.4 Truth Tables for Arguments, 6.5 Indirect Truth Tables
6.6. Argument Forms and Fallacies
M 9/21
W 9/23
F 9/25
*HW4 due / Review Day
EXAM
7.1-7.2 Rules of Implication I&II
M 9/28
W 9/30
F 10/2
7.3 Rules of Replacement I
7.4 Rules of Replacement II
NO CLASS
M 10/5
W 10/7
F 10/9
*HW5 due / 7.5 Conditional Proof
7.6 Indirect Proof, 7.7 Proving Logical Truths
NO CLASS
Predicate Logic
M 10/12
*HW6 due / 4.1 The Components of Categorical Propositions, 4.3 Venn
Diagrams and the Modern Square of Opposition
W 10/14
8.1 Symbols and Translation
F 10/16
8.2 Using the Rules of Inference, 8.3 Quantifier Negation Rule
M 10/19
W 10/21
F 10/23
*HW7 due
8.4 Conditional and Indirect Proof, 8.5 Proving Invalidity
FALL BREAK
M 10/26
W 10/28
F 10/30
*HW8 due / 8.6 Relational Predicates and Overlapping Quantifiers
8.7 Identity
*HW9 due / Review day
M 11/2
EXAM
Inductive Reasoning
W 11/4
Reread: 1.3 Deduction and Induction, 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness,
Strength, Cogency
F 11/6
9.1 Analogical Reasoning, 9.2 Legal Reasoning
M 11/9
W 11/11
F 11/13
12.1 Evaluating Statistics, 12.2 Samples
Stephen Carey, “Establishing Causal Links” [BLACKBOARD]
*HW10 due / 13.1 The Hypothetical Method, 13.2 Hypothetical
Reasoning: Four Examples from Science
M 11/16
13.4 The Tentative Acceptance of Hypotheses
Moral and Legal Reasoning
W 11/18
F 11/20
M 11/23
W 11/25
F 11/27
NO CLASS [Thanksgiving]
NO CLASS [Thanksgiving]
NO CLASS [Thanksgiving]
M 11/30
W 12/2
F 12/4
*HW11 due
M 12/7
W 12/9
F 12/11
Argumentation Project Peer Review, Day 2
Argumentation Project Peer Review, Day 1
*Argumentation Project Due / Review day
FINAL EXAM 12/16 8-10