INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC -- RELP 1155
Section 5605 11:00-11:50 MWF Ket 208 FALL 2005
SYLLABUS
Dr. Seth Holtzman
office: 308 Administration Bldg,
hours:
MW 3-5; TTh 10-11; Th 10-11 (and
11-12 if no meeting); & by appointment
phones: 637-4229 office;
636-9666 home; 637-4428 dept.
office
email: sholtzma@catawba.edu
Course summary:
This course provides an
introduction to the subject of formal reasoning. We will study modern formal logic, usually
called mathematical or symbolic logic.
This is a system for understanding the formal structure of our thinking
(yes, our thought is structured!), much the way mathematics is a system for
understanding the formal structure of our counting and measuring. Think how difficult it is to divide 3974
candy bars into 297.43 groups--manipulating the bars by hand. Work out that same problem formally with
mathematical symbols, and it becomes an easy (if tedious) long division
problem. Logic is in some ways
similar. There are uses for a formal
system to help us understand our reasoning and even to help us reason, in ways
that would be extremely difficult if not impossible if we lacked the symbolic
system to think with.
Class
format will be mostly lecture. We will
work some problems on the board. You
will have frequent reading assignments and homework.
This
course meets the Humanities distribution requirement, but you may use only one
of RELP 1155 or 1166 to meet this requirement.
Requirements and grading:
1.
Attendance is required. During a
lecture, I might elicit some material from you.
So, you must keep up with the readings, that day's class and the ongoing
course. You need to be mentally active
and prepared. Your participation in class--working problems on the board,
answering questions, raising relevant issues—can raise your grade up to 1/3 of
a grade. Also, some homework problems
will be graded. I do not much mind if
you work on homework with your colleagues.
Remember, though, that you will not profit from the homework if you do
not at least think it through for yourself.
I will not accept late homework assignments; do not turn them in. Those assignments to be turned in are due at
the beginning of class. TOTAL of homework: 10% of your grade
2) Three
pop quizzes, each
5% of your grade. None
will not take the entire period and each will test a limited amount of
material. NO makeup quizzes. TOTAL
of quizzes: 15% of your grade
3) Two
scheduled tests, each 25% of your
grade. Tentative dates: Sept. 30 and Nov. 4. Each
will test a substantial amount of material.
If you miss an exam, you must contact me immediately. If you know you have to miss it, contact me
beforehand. We will have a serious talk;
I do not guarantee that you will be permitted a make-up exam. TOTAL
of tests: 50% of your grade
4) A
comprehensive final exam, 25% of your
grade. You cannot receive a LOWER
grade for the course than you receive on the final exam, IF AND ONLY IF you
have taken all tests AND at least two quizzes AND you do not have a serious
attendance problem. Exam date: Monday, Dec. 12, 11:30 - 2:30; bring pencils
and (if you need it) scratch paper.
Here is what the grades mean:
"A"
"B" Good mastery
"C" Satisfactory achievement
"D" Less than satisfactory achievement
"F" Unsatisfactory achievement; Failure to
achieve minimum competency
I will employ plus/minus grades, but A+ is not a possible
final grade for the course:
A+
97-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-96 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
As indicated, grades
measure achievement.
Text:
Howard Pospesel's Introduction to Logic: PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC
(revised 3rd edition). It comes with a
very helpful CD at the end containing a Logic program that allows you to check
your own homework. You should use this
easy program; see appendix 5 in the book for help.
Read the
assigned passages carefully. Some of the material is easy and accessible on
your first attempt. Other assignments
are taxing and will require multiple readings.
I advise you to take notes on what you read, since I will lecture on
only those parts I consider essential for us to cover in class. You are responsible for everything in the
assigned readings, whether or not it is covered in class. Lectures can cover material not in the
readings; this is another reason to attend.
Most
students take very sketchy notes.
Perhaps they think that they cannot take notes and listen at once;
perhaps they do not appreciate the value of taking notes. Learn to write while you listen; it not only
can be done, it usually enhances your grasp of what is being said. Take as many notes as you can, without losing
too much of what is being said. Your
notes are an invaluable resource both for understanding the course and for the
final exam.
Do all
assigned homework, whether or not you are to turn it in. Work out the logic problems you are presented
with in class or in the book. Beginning
logic students typically suffer from what we might call the "eye-hand
disease". Those suffering from this
ailment see a problem worked out for them in class or the book and sincerely
believe that they understand how to do that kind of problem simply by seeing it
done. Then test time arrives (or graded
homework is returned), and it is clear that they didn't really
understand--though they thought they had.
WARNING: you often will not truly understand a logic exercise until you
do it yourself by hand. Practice!
If you get behind, even with your best efforts, see me for some extra
help.
Absences and violations:
To help with attendance--and to learn names--I will
institute a seating chart on the 2nnd day of class. Pick your permanent seat; change it only by notifying me. If late, you risk being counted absent. Tardiness should be rare; if you are often
late, I will deliberately count you as absent.
No absences
are excused. After 3 penalty-free absences—no
explanation needed--others lower your final grade: 4-5 by 1/3 grade, 6-8 by 2/3 grade, 9-10 by 1
grade. Missing class just
before or after vacation counts double.
Over 10 absences for other than an emergency is automatic grounds for an
"F" (or an "I" in some cases), regardless of your grades. Sleeping or other forms of mental
non-attendance count as an absence. When
absent, you are responsible for missed assignments and classroom material. Get notes from a classmate. If you still have questions, contact me. Cheating, as well as falsifying an emergency
to skip class or an assignment, violates the Honor Code.
Schedule of
1st week
Aug 26
Orientation: Syllabus
Judging Arguments
Modern Symbolic Logic:
Proofs Arguments
Pospesel Chapter 1--
"Logic", pp.1-8
Pospesel Chapter 2 – “If”
3rd week
Sept 5, 7, 9
VACATION on Monday
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel Chapter 2-- "If" (continued)
4th week
Sept 12, 14, 16
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel Chapter 3--"And"
5th week
Sept 19, 21, 23
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 4: "If (Again)"
6th
week Sept 26, 28, 30
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 4: "If (Again)"
TEST #1
7th week
Oct 3, 5, 7
Review test
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
read: Pospesel:
Chapter 5: "Not"
8th week
Oct 10, 12, 14
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 5: "Not" (continued)
9th week
Oct 17, 19, 21
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 6: "Iff"
10th week
Oct 24, 26, 28
VACATION on Monday
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 7: "Or"
11th week
Oct 31, Nov. 2, 4
Modern Symbolic Logic: Proofs
Pospesel: Chapter 7: "Or" (continued)
TEST #2
12th week
Nov 7, 9, 11
Review test
Modern Symbolic Logic: Truth Tables
Pospesel: Chapter 10:
"Truth Tables"
13th week
Nov 14, 16, 18
Modern Symbolic Logic: Truth
Tables
Pospesel: Chapter 10: "Truth Tables" (continued)
14th week
Nov 21, 23, 25
Modern Symbolic Logic: the
logic of Statements
Pospesel: Chapter 12: "Statements"
VACATION on Wednesday and Friday
15th week
Nov 28, 30, Dec 2
Modern Symbolic Logic: the
logic of Relationships
Pospesel: Chapter 13: "Logical Relations
16th week
Dec 5, 7, 9
Modern Symbolic Logic: the
logic of Relationships
Pospesel: Chapter 13: "Logical Relations (continued)
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FINAL
EXAM: Monday, Dec. 12, 11:30-2:30;
bring scratch paper and pencils