PHILOSOPHY 102 – Introduction to Logic Fall, 2009

Thomas E. Downing -- 650-3862; e-mail: Tom.Downing@wwu.edu; Webpage: http://www.wwu.edu/~tdowning ; Office: 301B Bond Hall; Office hours: 10:00 MTWF, 11:00 R, and by arrangement; Text Logic and Philosophy, by Hausman,Tidman and Kahane, 10^th edition (this is available in an expensive full-blown version and in a much cheaper custom paper back version designed for WWU (which, by the way, is entitled Introduction to Logic; either is perfectly acceptable). The new 11th edition is essentially identical to the 10th, so either will do.

I. BASIC LOGICAL NOTIONS

A. Argument

1. Inductive

2. Deductive

B. Deductive Validity and Invalidity

1. Defined and distinguished from statements

2. Distinguished from truth and falsehood

C. Simple and Compound Statements

1. Truth-functional compounds and truth-functional connectives

2. Non-truth functional compounds

D. Symbolizing English Sentences

II. TAUTOLOGICAL, CONTINGENT AND CONTRADICTORY STATEMENT FORMS; LOGICAL EQUIVALENCE

III. DEMONSTRATIONS OF VALIDITY AND INVALIDITY IN PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC

A. Truth-table method

B. Short-hand method

Mid-Term Exam

IV. FORMAL PROOFS OF VALIDITY

A. “Plain” formal proofs

1. Rules based on argument forms

2. Rules based on logical equivalences (replacement rules)

B. Conditional and Indirect Proofs

Final Exam: Monday, December 7th, 10:30-12:30 PM.

HOMEWORK: There will be approximately 16 graded homework assignments – your lowest two will be dropped from consideration.

EXAMINATIONS: There will be two examinations, a mid-term (100 points) and a final (150 points). Both exams will be open book/open notes, but you should not take too much comfort in that.

GRADE: The course grade will be based on the homework (10%) and the exams (90%). The ten percent of the students receiving the highest grades on the final exam will automatically receive an A in the course.