J. Aaron Daniel's Philosophy 52 Course Page - Introduction to Logic Lec4, WS04

It seems that as humans we are constantly examining ourselves, others like ourselves, and those things in the world that are different from us in an effort to understand these things and the relations between them. Such understanding allows us to explain, control, and live in the world more successfully. Philosophy is a way of looking at and thinking about these things in a deliberate and systematic way in order to try to arrive at the best understanding possible. Two of philosophy’s primary tools are logic and critical thinking.

Logic is the study of arguments. Some arguments are deductive and others are inductive. We will establish standards for each kind of argument. Applying the appropriate standards can help in evaluating arguments, both your own and others’. Critical thinking is the act of intentionally subjecting experiences and explanations to careful scrutiny and analysis. This is done in order to try to determine which experiences and which explanations to accept and/or confirm and which to reject.

No prior knowledge of philosophy is presupposed by this course. In fact, this course will prepare you for further studies in philosophy and in any discipline of science since critical reasoning is essential for any systematic study. The goal of this course is to teach reasoning skills that will improve your ability to formulate arguments in your speaking and writing, to evaluate and discover fallacies in the arguments used by advertisers, politicians, and others, and to, perhaps, figure out “who-done-it” before you get to the last chapter of a mystery novel.

Class Procedure

The class meetings present material from the texts and supplement it. Sometimes we will analyze and evaluate arguments from other sources. All reading assignments should be completed before the class period in which they will be discussed. Discussion is strongly encouraged, as are questions. Regular attendance, timely completion of all assignments, and involvement in class discussions will count toward class participation grades.

Students will be responsible for correcting and grading their own homework in class each day. Students will be required to bring a colored pen (red, green, purple, etc.) to class each day with which to do this grading.

Expectations and Grading

1. Ordinary student requirements: Attend class regularly, read assignments prior to class, take part in class discussions, do homework, take tests, and avoid any form of academic dishonesty. (See the statement on academic dishonesty below.)

2. Homework: There will be almost daily homework assignments. Generally an assignment will be made during one class period and be due at the beginning of the following class period. All homework assignments will be checked in class by the students themselves. Some assignments will also be randomly checked by the instructor. The average grade for these assignments will be worth 15% of the final grade.

3. Quizzes: There will be periodic in-class quizzes covering the recent reading assignments and lectures. The average grade for the quizzes will be worth 10% of the final grade.

4. Tests: There will be three exams (two in-class and one during the scheduled final time); one every five weeks. Each test grade will be worth 20% of your final course grade for a total of 60% of the final course grade. The exams will not be cumulative.

5. Written Assignments: There will be a series of written (typed) assignments consisting of a formal argument for a particular position on a controversial topic and critiques of an argument for the opposing view point. Students will be paired up and will argue opposing sides of an issue. Students will exchange first drafts of their arguments and provide a copy to the instructor as well. The student will provide a typed critique/response to his/her partner’s argument to both partner and instructor. The student will then write a new expanded and corrected version of the original argument that takes in to account both instructor and partner feedback. Copies of second version of the argument will be provided to both partner and instructor. A second critique will typed by each student and provided to both partner and instructor. The student will then type a final expanded and corrected version of his/her argument that takes in to account all new feedback and will provide a copy to both the instructor and his/her partner. Lastly, the student will provide one last typed critique of the final version of his/her partner’s argument.

Further, more specific guidelines regarding the selection of topics, length of each assignment, structure and format of arguments and critiques, as well as margins and fonts to be used and other information will be provided in class prior to each assignment. The grade for the three (3) versions of the argument and the three (3) critiques will be worth 10% of the final grade.

6. Attendance and Participation: These will be based primarily on the percentage of assignments completed and turned in on time and the amount of active involvement in the class. These together, will be worth 5% of your final grade.

7. Late Work: Unless there is a very good reason (such as a medical emergency), there will be no late assignments accepted. If you can not complete an assignment for such a reason, contact the instructor.

8. Make-up exams: Unless there is a very good reason (such as a medical emergency), there will be no make-up exams given. If you can not take an exam for some reason, contact the instructor well before the exam.

9. Incompletes/Delayed Grades: A delayed grade is possible only in cases where course work is passing and nearly complete, and there is a good excuse for not completing the course work by the end of the semester.

Texts

ILCT: Salmon, Merrilee, Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking, 4^th Edition, (Thomson Learning, Inc., 2002)

WT: Schick, Theodore, Jr. and Vaugh, Lewis, How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age, 3^rd Edition, (McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2002)

Topics and Assignments

ð NOTE: Schedule of readings open to change, with notice.

· WEEK ONE -- LOGIC & ARGUMENTS Beginning Questionnaire

· Wednesday, January 21^st – Syllabus and Introduction to the class;

· Friday, January 23^rd – ILCT: Ch. 1, Secs. I, pp. 1-12; WT: Ch. 1, pp. 1-12.

Possible Argument Writing Assignment Topics

· WEEK TWO – RECOGNISING & RECONSTRUCTING ARGUMENTS, AND RELATIVISM

· Monday, January 26^th – ILCT: Ch. 1, Secs. II-III pp. 12-23. Ch. 1 Definitions

· Wednesday, January 28^th – ILCT: Ch. 1, Secs. IV-VI, pp. 23-41. [Last Day to Add/Change Sections]

· Friday, January 30^th – WT: Ch. 4, pp. 70-82. Realism vs. Relativism Notes

· WEEK THREE – RELATIVISM, DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS, & INDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS

· Monday, February 2^nd – WT: Ch. 4, pp. 82-92. Typed First Draft of Argument Assignment Due.

· Wednesday, February 4^th – ILCT: Ch. 3, Secs. I-II pp. 78 –90.

· Friday, February 6^th – ILCT: Ch. 3, Secs. III, pp. 90 –98.

· WEEK FOUR -- FALLACIES & EVALUATING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

· Monday, February 9^th – ILCT: Ch. 3, Secs. IV-V, pp. 98-103.

· Wednesday, February 11^th – WT: Ch. 3, pp. 31-46.

· Friday, February 13^th– WT: Ch. 3, pp. 46-53.

· WEEK FIVE – PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & THE FIRST TEST

· Monday, February 16^th – WT: Ch. 3, pp. 53 - 69. Typed Critiques of First Argument Due.

· Wednesday, February 18^th – Review for Test 1

· Friday, February 20^th – FIRST TEST, ILCT: CHAPTERS 1 & 3 and WT: CHAPTERS 1, 4 & 3.

· WEEK SIX – INDUCTIVE ARGS: STATISTICAL SYLLOGISMS & ARGS. FROM ANALOGY

· Monday, February 23^rd – ILCT: Ch. 4, Secs. I-II, pp. 111-118. [Last Day to Drop Class Without a Grade]

· Wednesday, February 25^th – ILCT: Ch. 4, Secs. II, pp. 119-132.

· Friday, February 27^th – ILCT: Ch. 4, Sec. III, pp. 132-145.

· WEEK SEVEN – ARGS. BASED ON SAMPLES, EPISTEMOLOGY, & ASTROLOGY

· Monday, March 1^st – ILCT: Ch. 4, Secs. IV-VII, pp. 145-162.

Have your horoscope cast before class

· Wednesday, March 3^rd – WT: Ch. 5 pp. 94-114.

· Friday, March 5^th – WT: Ch. 5, pp. 114-133. Typed Second Draft of Argument Assignment Due.

· WEEK EIGHT – CAUSATION, CAUSAL FALLACIES & CONFIRMATION OF HYPOTHESES

· Monday, March 8^th – ILCT: Ch. 5, Secs. IV- VI, pp. 195-211.

· Wednesday, March 10^th – ILCT: Ch. 5, Secs. VI-VII, pp. 204-213.

· Friday, March 12^th – ILCT: Ch. 7, Secs. I-IV, pp. 255-274.

· WEEK NINE – DISCONFIRMATION, BAYESIAN CONFIRMATION, & EVIDENCE

· Monday, March 15^th – ILCT: Ch. 7, Sec. V, pp. 274-283.

· Wednesday, March 17^st – ILCT: Ch. 7, Secs. VI-VII, pp. 283-293.

· Friday, March 19^th – ILCT: Ch. 7, Secs. VI-VII, pp. 283-295; WT: Ch. 6, pp. 134-140.

· WEEK TEN -- March 22^nd – March 26^th – SPRING BREAK. NO CLASSES!

· WEEK ELEVEN – PROBLEMS WITH EVIDENCE & THE SECOND TEST

· Monday, March 29^th – WT: Ch. 6, pp. 140-146. Typed Critiques of Second Arguments Due.

· Wednesday, March 31^st – Review for Test 2

· Friday, April 2^nd – SECOND TEST, ILCT: CHAPTERS 4, 5 & 7 and WT: CHAPTER 5 & 6.

· WEEK TWELVE -- CONDITIONAL ARGUMENTS & FALLACIES

· Monday, April 5^th – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. I-III, pp. 297-307.

· Wednesday, April 7^th – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. III, pp. 301-307.

· Friday, April 9^th – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. IV-V, pp. 307-316. [Last Day to Withdraw from a Class]

· WEEK THIRTEEN –MORE SENTENTIAL ARGUMENTS, SCIENCE & SCIENTIFIC CRITERIA

· Monday, April 12^th – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. VI, pp. 316-324.

· Wednesday, April 14^th – WT: Ch. 7, pp. 159-171.

· Friday, April 16^th – WT: Ch. 7, pp. 171-182. Typed Final Draft of Argument Assignment Due.

· WEEK FOURTEEN -- SENTENCE LOGIC & SYMBOLIC LOGIC

· Monday, April 19^th – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. VII-VIII, pp. 324-331.

· Wednesday, April 21^st – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. IX-X, pp. 331-340.

· Friday, April 23^rd – ILCT: Ch. 8, Secs. XI-XII, pp. 340-345.

· WEEK FIFTEEN --, EVOLUTION AND CREATIONISM & PARAPSYCHOLOGY

· Monday, April 26^th – ILCT: Ch. 8.

· Wednesday, April 28^th – WT: Ch. 7, pp. 182-193.

· Friday, April 30^th – WT: Ch. 7, pp. 193-206. Typed Critiques of Final Arguments Due.

· WEEK SIXTEEN -- SCIENCE & END OF SEMESTER WRAP-UP

· Monday, May 3^rd – WT: Ch. 7.

· Wednesday, May 5^th – Review for Test 3

· Friday, May 7^th – STOP DAY.

· FINALS WEEK --

· Monday, May 10^th, 1:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 209 GCB – THIRD TEST,

ILCT: CHAPTER 8 & WT: CHAPTER 7.

ð NOTE: Schedule of readings open to change, with notice.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter.

University regulations oblige instructors to report any suspected case of academic dishonesty to the Provost’s Office, where it will be treated with serious consequences ranging from warnings to probation to expulsion from the University. In addition, the instructor may award a failing grade in the assignment, a failing grade in the course, or may adjust the grade as deemed appropriate. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, consult the course instructor.

Statement of ADA Compliance

If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform me immediately. Please see me privately after class, or at my office 435 GCB. To request academic accommodations (for example, a note taker), students must also register with Disability Services, AO38 Brady Commons, 882-4696. It is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations, and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and instructors, as needed and consistent with course requirements. Another resource, MU's Adaptive Computing Technology Center, 884-2828, is available to provide computing assistance to students with disabilities. For more information about the rights of people with disabilities, please see http://ada.missouri.edu/ or call 884-7278.

Problems

If you experience a problem with this course or with me, please come to talk to me about it. If, for whatever reason, you are uncomfortable talking to me, please see the Course Director for Philosophy 52, Prof. Claire Horisk, 437 GCB. As a final step, but only as a final step, you may see the Chairman of the Philosophy Department, Prof. Jonathan Kvanvig, 438 GCB.

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This site was last updated 06/17/05