PHIL 120 – Introduction to Logic
Section 1 (22368) – MWF 11:00-11:50 am – PSFA-325
COURSE SYLLABUS (FALL 2013)
H. Reyes
Office: AL 427
Voice Mail: (619) 594-8839
E-mail: hreyes@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: MWF – 10:00-10:50 am
TTH – 3:00-3:50 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Phil 120: Introduction to Logic (3 units) – Introduction to
deductive and inductive logic; logic and language; analysis of fallacies; and uses logic in
science and in daily life
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course recognizes that thinking and/or reasoning
logically is a fundamental competence, and so takes correct reasoning itself as its primary
focus. Its goals are not only to provide students with criteria and methods for
distinguishing good reasoning from bad reasoning and to help students develop basic
reasoning skills that can be applied both within a broad range of academic disciplines and
outside academic environment; but also to help students learn from data, communicate
quantitatively, analyze evidence and assertions and employ quantitative (SD General
Catalog) reasoning, and use and comprehend quantitative language (SD General
Catalog) to prove how conclusions follow logically from given premises.
To pursue these objectives, the course will be based on a standard introductory
text on deductive and inductive logic, and students will be required to exhibit
computational skills in the completion of assignments and written exercises in response
to the materials covered in the course with the use of APLIA website.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the semester, the students will be able to
 Distinguish passages that contain arguments from passages that are nonarguments
 Distinguish deductive arguments from inductive arguments
 Identify the premises and conclusion of arguments
 Identify types of informal fallacies
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 Test arguments for validity using Venn diagrams, and/or truth tables and
indirect truth tables
 Distinguish necessary and sufficient conditions
 Translate sentences into propositional logic
 Apply the technique of natural deduction to proving arguments, including
the use of conditional and indirect proofs
 Apply appropriate computational skills (SD General Catalog) to analyze
arguments
 Use methods of quantitative reasoning to solve logical problems (SD General
Catalog).
FYI#1: Any students with special needs due to documented medical
condition should avail themselves of the resources of the Disabled Student Services
Office, Calpulli Center, Rm 301 (619-594-6473). Students who have concerns that
might prevent them from otherwise doing well in this course should discuss this with
the instructor so that proper arrangement may be made to accommodate their
conditions.
FYI#2: Students must inform instructor within the first two weeks of class of
any planned absences on account of religious observances.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Hurley. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th ed. (with APLIA access code).
2012. Wadsworth. (NOTE: You can get this physical text with the APLIA access
code only from the SDSU Bookstore.)
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
Use of laptop/tablet in class is ALLOWED ONLY for the purpose of accessing
the electronic version of the text and the APLIA website and for note taking. Students
will lose this privilege if they use their laptop/tablet for other than those specified
activities.
Students should also refrain from any activity/behavior that may be disturbing to
other students who are making the effort to be attentive. Let us show RESPECT FOR
EACH OTHER by coming to class on time, not sleeping during class, not letting our
cell phone to ring as class is going on, and by being actively engaged in whatever is
going on in class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. ATTENDANCE and CLASS WORK – Attend each class on time. Unnecessary
absences and tardiness have drastic negative effect in your understanding of the
materials covered in class and in your performance in the exams. Participate
actively in class work. To be able to do the class work, you will need your
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textbook, so bring it to class every class meeting. NOTE: THERE IS NO
MAKEUP FOR CLASSWORK.
2. QUIZZES – These are scheduled exams based on each chapter completed in the
course. These exams are application exams (i.e., these are intended to show your
ability to apply the key concepts and principles discussed in that particular
chapter).
3. Completion of all assignments on the APLIA Website. You will need the
access code to go to the APLIA Website. A handout will be provided to access
the APLIA Website. NOTE: These assignments have DUE DATES and are
GRADED. If you missed the due date, there is NO EXTENSION of due
dates. FAILURE to complete the assignments on its due date will result in an
automatic ZERO for that assignment.
4. FINAL EXAM – Just like the major exams, the final exam is an application
exam, intended to show your ability to apply the key concepts and principles
covered in chapters 5, 6 and 7.
NOTE: I encourage you to aspire for excellence in your work. I encourage and
recognize your hard work, diligence, and genuine effort to do well in class. To
reward such commendable qualities, I provide you with an opportunity to be
exempted from the final exam. A student will be exempted from the final exam if
you meet the following 2 conditions: your pre-final grade is at least 90% and you
have NO (repeat, NO) absences.
GRADING POLICY: Your final grade will be based on the following distribution of
points:
 60% - Average of ALL Major Exam
 15% - Average Score of all assignments on the APLIA Website
 5% - Class work and Attendance
 20% - Final Exam
100 – Final Grade
Letter grade will be determined based on the following scale:
96-100 ---------- A
76-79 ---------- C+
90-95 ------------ A- 73-75 ---------- C
86-89 ------------ B+ 70-72 ---------- C83-85 ------------ B
66-69 ---------- D+
80-82 ------------ B- 60-65 ---------- D
NOTE: Anything below 60% is an “F”
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COURSE OUTLINE:
8/26 (M): Introduction: Get acquainted, discuss class syllabus, class requirements, etc.
8/28 (W): Discuss 1.1 – Arguments, Premises, Conclusions
8/30 (F): Discuss 1.2 – Recognizing Arguments
9/02 (M): LABOR DAY – NO CLASS
9/04 (W): Discuss 1.3 – Deduction Arguments
9/06 (F): Discuss 1.3 – Inductive Arguments
9/09 (M): Discuss 1.4 – Validity, Soundness, Strength and Cogency
9/11 (W): Discuss 1.6 – Extended Arguments
9/13 (F): QUIZ #1
9/16 (M): Discuss 3.1 – Informal Fallacies
9/18 (W): Discuss 3.2 – Fallacies of Relevance
9/20 (F): Discuss 3.3 – Fallacies of Weak Induction
9/23 (M: Discuss 3.4 – Fallacies of Presumption
9/25 (W): Discuss 3.4 – Fallacies of Ambiguity and Grammatical Analogy
9/27 (F): QUIZ #2
9/30 (M): Discuss 4.1 – Categorical Propositions
10/02 (W): Discuss 4.2 – AEIO and Venn Diagrams
10/04 (F): Discuss 4.3 – Modern Square of Opposition
10/07 (M): Discuss 4.4 – Conversion and Obversion
10/09 (W): Discuss 4.4 – Contraposition
10/11 (F): Discuss 4.5 – Traditional Square of Opposition
10/14 (M: Discuss 4.7 – Translating Ordinary Language Statements into Categorical
Statements
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10/16 (W): QUIZ #3
10/18 (F): Discuss 5.1 – Standard Form of Categorical Syllogism
10/21 (M): Discuss 5.2 – Figures and Moods; and Venn diagrams
10/23 (W): Discuss 5.3 – Five rules and Fallacies
10/25 (F): Discuss 5.4 & 5.5 – Reducing the Number of Terms; and Ordinary Language
Arguments
10/28 (M): Discuss 5.6 – Enthymemes
10/30 (W): Discuss 5.7 – Sorites
11/01 (F): QUIZ #4
11/04 (M): Discuss 6.1 – Symbols and Translations
11/06 (W): Discuss 6.2 – Truth Functions
11/08 (F): Discuss 6.3 - Truth Tables for propositions
11/11 (M): VETERAN’S DAY – NO CLASS
11/13 (W): Discuss 6.4 – Truth tables for arguments
11/15 (F): Discuss 6.5 – Indirect Truth Tables
11/18 (M): QUIZ #5
11/20 (W): Discuss 7.1 – Rules of Implication I
11/22 (F): Discuss 7.2 – Rules of Implication II
11/25 (M): Discuss 7.3 – Rules of Replacement I
11/27 (W): Discuss 7.4 – Rules of Replacement II
THANKSGIVING RECESS 11/28-30/2013) – NO CLASS
12/02 (M): QUIZ #6
12/04 (W): Discuss 7.5 – Conditional Proof
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12/06 (F): Discuss 7.6 – Indirect Proof
12/09 (M): Discuss 7.6 – Indirect Proof
12/11 (W): Last day of regular class: Distribute pre-final grades; Review for final
exam
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE: MONDAY, DEC. 16 – 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
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