PHIL 120 – Introduction to Logic
Section 1 (22342) – MWF 11:00-11:50 am – SH 260
Section 2 (22343) – MWF 12:00-12:50 pm – SH 260
COURSE SYLLABUS (SPRING 2011)
H. Reyes
Office: AL 427
Voice Mail: (619) 594-8839
E-mail: hreyes@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: MWF – 10:00-10:50 am
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, 2010, p. 87) reasoning, and use and comprehend quantitative language (SD
General Catalog, 2010, p.87) 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, 2010, p. 87) to
analyze arguments
 Use methods of quantitative reasoning to solve logical problems (SD General
Catalog, 2010, p.87).
DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES:
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, 10th ed. (with APLIA
access code), 2008, Thomson/Wadsworth (NOTE: You can only get this text with the
APLIA code from the SDSU Bookstore)
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Use of laptop computers in class is ALLOWED for the
purpose of note taking, using the E-text version of our textbook and accessing the APLIA
Website. Other computer activities can be distracting, so refrain from using your
computer in class for purposes other than those already specified. Also, refrain from any
activity/behavior that may be disturbing to other students who are making the effort to be
attentive. Cell phones and other electronic devises should be turned off and stored
away. Please RESPECT YOURSELF AND OTHER STUDENTS by not chatting
with one another during class. Also, keep in mind that the classroom is not the proper
place for sleeping.
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 grade 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% - Completion 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:
1/19 (W): Introduction: Get acquainted, discuss class syllabus, class requirements, etc.
1/21 (F): Discuss 1.1 – Arguments, Premises, Conclusions
1/24 (M): Discuss 1.2 – Recognizing Arguments
1/26 (W): Discuss 1.3 – Deduction Arguments
1/28 (F): Discuss 1.3 – Inductive Arguments
1/31 (M): Discuss 1.4 – Validity, Soundness, Strength and Cogency
2/2 (W): Discuss 1.6 – Extended Arguments
2/4 (F): QUIZ #1
2/7 (M): Discuss 3.1 – Informal Fallacies
2/9 (W): Discuss 3.2 – Fallacies of Relevance
2/11 (F): Discuss 3.3 – Fallacies of Weak Induction
2/14 (M): Discuss 3.4 – Fallacies of Presumption
2/16 (W): Discuss 3.4 – Fallacies of Ambiguity and Grammatical Analogy
2/18 (F): QUIZ #2
2/21 (M): Discuss 4.1 – Categorical Propositions
2/23 (W): Discuss 4.2 – AEIO and Venn Diagrams
2/25 (F): Discuss 4.3 – Modern Square of Opposition
2/28 (M): Discuss 4.4 – Conversion and Obversion
3/2(W): Discuss 4.4 – Contraposition
3/4 (F): Discuss 4.5 – Traditional Square of Opposition
3/7 (M); Discuss 4.7 – Translating Ordinary Language Statements into Categorical
Statements
3/9 (W): QUIZ #3
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3/11 (F): Discuss 5.1 – Standard Form of Categorical Syllogism
3/14 (M): Discuss 5.2 – Figures and Moods; and Venn diagrams
3/16 (W): Discuss 5.3 – Five rules and Fallacies
3/18 (F): Discuss 5.4 & 5.5 – Reducing the Number of Terms; and Ordinary Language
Arguments
3/21 (M): Discuss 5.6 – Enthymemes
3/23 (W): Discuss 5.7 – Sorites
3/25 (F): QUIZ #4
SPRING RECESS (3/28 – 4/1) – NO CLASS
4/4 (M): Discuss 6.1 – Symbols and Translations
4/6 (W): Discuss 6.2 - Truth Functions
4/8 (F): Discuss 6.3 – Truth tables for proposition
4/11 (M): Discuss 6.4 – Truth Tables for argument
4/13 (W): Discuss 6.5 – Indirect truth tables
4/15 (F): QUIZ #5
4/18 (M): Discuss 7.1 – Rules of Implication I
4/20 (W): Discuss 7.2 – Rules of Implication II
4/22 (F): Discuss 7.3 – Rules of Replacement I
4/25 (M): Discuss 7.4 – Rules of Replacement II
4/27 (W): QUIZ #6
4/29 (F): Discuss 7.5 – Conditional Proof
5/2 (M): Discuss 7.6 – Indirect Proof
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5/4 (W): Discuss 7.7 – Proving Logical Truths
5/6 (F): Distribute pre-final grades; Review for final exam
5/9 (M): Last day of regular class; Review for final exam
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:
For Section 1 (11:00 am class) – Wednesday, May 18 (10:30am – 12:30pm)
For Section 2 (12:00 noon class) – Monday, May 16 (1:00 – 3:00pm)
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