Course Description:
Symbolic Logic I: Sentential and predicate logic. Translation from natural language; truth tables and interpretations; systems of natural deduction up to relational predicate logic with identity; alternative proof methods. Some sections may use computer-based materials and tests.
Student / audience description:
Philosophy 220A is a course designed for students who want an introduction to symbolic or formal logic. The course is mathematical in content. No philosophy background is required. Although there may be some content in common with Philosophy 120 Logic and critical thinking that course is not a pre-requisite for Philosophy 220A Symbolic Logic I. Students who take this course are sometimes majors in Philosophy. However, they are often majors in other subjects.
Course objectives / outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- Acquire an understanding of how artificial symbolic languages for logic work
- Acquire the ability to symbolize or translate English into formulas in artificial symbolic languages
- Develop an understanding of important logical concepts
- Learn how to investigate the application of these logical concepts to formulas in artificial symbolic languages using the methods of semantic tableau and natural deduction proofs
Text:
Language Proof and Logic, Barwise and Etchemendy (Palo Alto CA: CSLI)
Supplementary material:
Online in the webCT VISTA course website.
