PHILOSOPHY 3231
LOGIC
SPRING TERM 2008
Keith M. Parsons, Professor of Philosophy
Content and Description: The first chapter of my book Rational Episodes tells you what
logic is about. Also I am handing out the “Preface for Students” for my logic text that
will give you further information about our subject matter. In a nutshell, logic is about
practices of good reasoning. Some of these practices can be stated as formal rules that
are strict, rigorous, and without exception or qualification. Other practices are “rules of
thumb,” recommendations and norms that cannot be formulated rigorously and which
admit of occasional exceptions or qualifications. Logic is sometimes described as “the
science of reasoning,” where “science” does not mean a natural science like chemistry,
but a formal science like mathematics. However, since “logic” as we shall use the term
has both formal and informal aspects, we should characterize logic as the science and the
art of good reasoning. In this course we shall move from the more formal to the informal
parts of logic.
Meeting Time and Place: Bayou Building 2106; M, 4-6:50 P.M.
Instructor’s office: 1508-21
Office hours: 2-4 P.M., M, T, Th
Office phone: (281) 283-3361
Instructor’s e-mail: parsons@uhcl.edu
Texts:
Rational Episodes: Logic for Intermittently Rational Beings, Keith Parsons. We will use
drafts of my first eight chapters, which will be made available at:
http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Parsons (only the first four chapters will be available at
first; chapters 5-8 will be made available by Feb. 1).
Note: Since these chapters are in draft form, and logic texts are excruciatingly difficult to
proofread and correct, there will no doubt be some—too many—irritating typos and
mistakes in these chapters. Any complex new thing will have loads of bugs that need to
be exterminated. I sincerely apologize in advance for any frustration and exasperation
these hassles cause. In fact, I shall attempt to turn these bugs into a source of reward
rather than irritation. If you find a typo, mistake, or error in the text, print up the page,
note the error, and turn in the page with your name on it. If I agree that you have found a
legitimate error, typo, or mistake I shall add one point to your grade on the third exam for
each one you find, up to a grade of 100 on that exam.
On Bullshit (No kidding; real title), Harry G. Frankfurt
Crimes Against Logic, Jamie Whyte
Course Requirements: The grade will be based entirely upon three take-home
examinations. The first will be given out February 25, and due on March 3. It will cover
chapters 1-4 of Rational Episodes. The second will be handed out March 31 and due
April 7. It will cover chapters 5-8 of Rational Episodes (note that these first two dates
are highly tentative; changes, if any, will be announced in class). The third will be
handed out on the last day of class, April 28, and will be due at my office 6 P.M., May 5.
It will cover the Whyte and Frankfurt books and class lectures. The third exam will not
be accepted late.