Phil 2520 Philosophy of Logic

___________________________________________________________________________

Course description

This course will cover both topics in formal logic and related philosophical issues concerning logic. Logical systems studied will include classical logic, modal logic, conditional logic, intuitionist logic, many valued logic, and relevant logic. Philosophical issues addressed will include whether, and in what sense, the various logical systems studied are correct, as well as the nature of logical consequence, indicative conditionals, subjunctive conditionals, truth, possible worlds and impossible worlds.

___________________________________________________________________________

Instructor

Dan Marshall

Office: 10.08 Run Run Shaw Building

Email: danm@hku.hk

Office hour(s): After classes, and by appointment

___________________________________________________________________________

Course website

To find the course website, go to the philosophy department website and click on courses.

The course website will contain:

i) Seminar handouts,

ii) Readings,

iii) Assignments,

iv) Essay questions,

v) Important dates

vi) Other important information.

___________________________________________________________________________

Mode of delivery

Seminars:

Tuesdays 1.30pm-3.20pm, CPD 2.14

There will be 12 two hour seminars during this course.

___________________________________________________________________________

Required Text

All students must have a copy of Graham Priest’s textbook `An Introduction to Non-Classical Logic’.

All other required reading will be put on the course website.

__________________________________________________________________________

Provisional Course Schedule

Date of Seminar	Provisional Topics	Required Reading
18 September	What is logic?	Sider, What is Logic? pp. 1-11
25 September	Classical Logic	Priest, Ch 1
2 October	Conditionals	Grice, Logic and Conversation
9 September	Basic Modal Logic	Priest, Ch 2
16 October	Normal Modal Logics	Priest, Ch 3
23 October	No seminar (Reading week)
30 October	Non-normal Modal Logics; Strict Conditionals	Priest, Ch 4
6 November	Conditional Logics	Priest, Ch 5
13 November	Intuitionist Logic	Priest, Ch 6
20 November	Many Valued Logics	Priest, Ch 7
27 November	First Degree Entailment	Priest, Ch 8
4 December	Logic with Gaps, Gluts and Worlds	Priest, Ch 9
11 December	Relevant Logics	Priest, Ch 10

The details of the above course schedule may change. Any changes will be announced in seminars and on seminar handouts available on the course website.

In addition to the above seminars, there may be one or two further classes organised devoted to problem solving exercises and revision. The details regarding any such classes will be announced in seminars.

__________________________________________________________________________

Course objectives

This course aims to introduce some of the major systems of classical and non-classical logic and some of the philosophical issues these system raise.

It also seeks to provide training in:

i) Critical thinking and problem solving,

ii) Argumentative techniques in mathematical logic

iii) Interpretation and evaluation of other people's views, and

iv) Spoken and written expression and argumentation.

__________________________________________________________________________

Student Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

i) Understand and describe a number of important logical systems in classical and non-classical logic,

ii) Solve problems in mathematical logic regarding these logical systems,

iii) Understand and describe some of the important philosophical issues raised by these systems of logic,

iv) Critically examine a range of views and arguments, and formulate responses to them, and

v) Demonstrate critical argumentative and problem-solving skills in both verbal discussions and in a written essay.

__________________________________________________________________________

Assessment

Assignments

There will be three assignments consisting of logical problem sets.
Each of these assignments will contribute 10% towards your final mark.

Exam

There will be a two hour exam consisting of logical problem sets. The date of the exam will be announced in seminars. The exam will contribute 30% towards your final mark.

Essay

There will be a 1250 word essay on a philosophical issue raised by the logical systems studied in the course. The essay will contribute 25% towards your final mark.

Class participation

Participation in seminars will contribute 15% towards your final mark

The dates of the assignments, exam and essay will all be announced in seminars and on the course website.