Chabot College
Fall 2001
Course Outline for Philosophy 12
INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
(SEE ALSO MATHEMATICS 12)
Catalog Description:
12 – Introduction to Logic
3 units
Introduction to formal deductive logic with emphasis on developing the basic concepts of modern
symbolic logic; includes deductive validity, relation of ordinary languages to symbolic logic, distinction
between inductive and deductive arguments, relation of truth to validity, uses of truth tables, role of
logic in the disciplines of mathematics, philosophy and sciences, rules of inference for propositional
logic and first order predicate logic. May not receive credit if Mathematics 12 has been completed.
3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. define the terms of propositional logic, including proposition, formula of propositional logic,
sentential connectives, deductive argument, premise and conclusion of an argument, validity,
invalidity, consistency, inconsistency, disjunction, conjunction, conditional (implication), biconditional (equivalence), and negation;
2. translate propositions stated in ordinary language into logic formulas, using the notation of
propositional logic developed in this course;
3. determine the validity or invalidity of deductive arguments which can be stated in the formulas of
propositional logic;
4. prove the validity or invalidity of an argument of propositional logic;
5. demonstrate the consistency or inconsistency of a set of premises;
6. translate ordinary language propositions into the notation of the first order predicate logic using
universal and existential quantifiers, and the symbolic notation developed in this course;
7. prove the validity of arguments which can be represented in terms of universally general formulas
of first order predicate logic, and involving only the rules Universal Instantiation and Universal
Generalization.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7
Propositional logic
Notation of propositional logic
Validity and invalidity of deductive arguments
Proving validity by a variety of methods, including conditional proof and reductio ad absurdum
Truth tables
Inconsistency of an inconsistent set of premises
First order predicate logic
a. Universal and existential quantifiers
b. Symbolic notation
8. Rule of Universal Instantiation
9. Rule of Universal Generalization
Chabot College
Course Outline for Philosophy 12, Page 2
Fall Semester 2001
Methods of Presentation:
Lectures and discussions
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Written homework assignments, e.g. Translate “not every smile is genuine” into the symbolic
notation of first
order predicate logic.
b. Oral presentations on topics related to logic, e.g. Logic and computers; Fuzzy logic; Fallacies of
weak induction; Scientific reasoning; Causality and Mill’s methods
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Oral presentations
b. Quizzes, exams, midterm
c. Final Exam
Textbook(s) (Typical):
A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick Hurley, Wadsworth Publishers , 2000
Special Student Materials:
None
Ray Westergard css/hps
dk for Phil 12
D:\LAH\CURRICU\FALL00PHIL12Rev2.DOC