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PASADENA CITY COLLEGE
Department of Philosophy
Philosophy 30
Logic in Practice
Spring 2016
T Th: 1:00
Philip Ricards, Ph.D.
Prof. of Philosophy (Em.)
C 321 / 585-7248
pcricards@pasadena.edu
Text: 1.) P. Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic,
12th Edition. Traditional Logic Course:
Chs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2.) “HANDBOOK for Logic: Philosophy 30”,
Rev. Spring 2015/2016
COURSE SYLLABUS
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful
completion of this course, students will be able to use logical
tools in everyday life in order to:
1. Be able to distinguish arguments from other forms of
discourse.
2. Distinguish inductive from deductive arguments and
explain clearly what counts as a good
argument of either sort.
3. Be able to identify and evaluate deductive arguments
of increasing complexity through one or more of the
following techniques: Venn diagrams, truth tables,
or formal proofs.
4. Identify common fallacies occurring in everyday
language in various contexts.
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Students will find that their powers of rational analysis will be
greatly improved upon completion of the course.
COURSE FORMAT: The greater part of class time will be
spent in evaluation of student at-home assignments and class
exercises. The remainder will consist in lectures clarifying
course themes.
COURSE WORK: Homework assignments will form the
major part of the written work over the term. These assignments
will be tuned in at the beginning of each class, checked for
completion, and evaluated during class time. Students are
required to come to class prepared to discuss the day’s
assignment. Late homework will be accepted if submitted in
a timely manner. That is, homework for the missed day
must be turned in on the first day of return to class, along
with that day’s assignment.
For example: Absent Friday? That Friday’s assignment Is
due the next Friday along with the next Friday’s assignment.
2% FOR EACH MISSING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
will be deducted from the final grade point average. Please get
the telephone number or email of a classmate in order to keep
up on course progress and homework if you must be absent.
Your instructor is unable to respond to phone calls or e-mail
requesting information about the current assignment.
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ATTENDANCE is required at all class meetings. 1% for
each HOUR of unexcused absence will be deducted from the
final grade point average. According to the State of California
Education Code, absences of any kind exceeding 6 class hours
[two class meetings] shall constitute grounds for being
dropped from class. THREE TARDIES = ONE
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE.
ANY ABSENCE DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF
CLASS not approved prior to that class meeting will result in
the student being dropped from the class.
GRADING and TESTS: All Exams are Section exams. There
will be four of them, all of which are equally weighted at 100
points each. EXCEPTING THE LAST (FINAL) EXAM,
one and only one missing or low grade test will be dropped. A
second missed exam will be scored as a zero. The FINAL
GRADE will be determined by the average of these tests with
adjustments for attendance and homework, if applicable.
NO MAKE UPS WILL BE GIVEN.
GRADING: Exams: A = 270+ points (90 points ave. with
no missing homework or unexcused
absences)
B = 225+
(75%+ ave.
“ )
C = 180+
(60%+ave.
“ )
D = 150+
(50%+ ave.
“ )
F = 149 or less
(less than 50% ave.)
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LIST OF POSSIBLE // PROBABLE ASSIGNMENTS
Ch. 1.1: I, III, IV;
6.1: I#’s 1-11
1.2: I, IV, V, VI
1.3: I, II, III
1.4: I, II, III, IV, V
(1.5: I, II #’s 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Ch. 3.1: Ex.
3.2: I, II,
3.3: I, II, III
3.4: I, II, III
(3.5: I #’s 1-30)
Ch. 4.1: Ex.
4.2: I, II, III, IV
4.3: I, II
4.4: I, II, III
4.5: I. II, III, IV, V
4.7: I, II
Ch. 5.1: I, II, III, V
5.2: I, II, III
5.3: I, II, III
5.4: I
5.5: I
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Ch. 6.1: I, II, III
6.2: I, III odds, IV
6.4: I, II
6.5: II
6.6: I, II
Ch. 7.1: I, II, III, IV
7.2: I, II, III, IV
GENERAL NOTES:
You all know about the horse and the water. Success in
Philosophy 30 is dependent on the student’s willingness to
engage the material by way of doing the Homework and
asking questions during class time if she/he has confusions
and perplexities. You should be having questions. If you
don’t, then you are not engaging the material. And you
should be asking them.
For the record, there are no “stupid” questions in this class.
At least 17 other people in the class have the same “stupid”
question bouncing around inside their heads, and so by
addressing your “stupid” question, I’m speaking to any
number of other students in the class who are having the
same or similar difficulties. Please do not come up to me
after class with your “stupid” questions. Again, ask them
during class time. Help me do my job. Thanks!
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There is also a great deal of memorization of various logical
rules, principles, etc. required for success in in Philosophy 30.
You will need good (clear, accurate) definitions in order to be
able to apply them appropriately. So, learn those rules, etc.
exactly as they are given in Hurley, the Handout, or by me
during class time. If Logic is about anything, it is about
clarity of thought. Muddy, confused definitions will lead
you straight to Logical Hell. So take some time with
learning the rules, principles, etc. We all hate memory
work, but it’s absolutely necessary.
On a slightly different note and psychologically speaking, I
recommend students regard this class as they would a College
Algebra course. It is very, very difficult to succeed in Math
without doing the homework, memorizing the formulas and
procedures, etc. The same holds true for Logic.
Good Luck!