Traditional Logic

Course Description: This course will serve as a general introduction to various forms of logical reasoning with a focus on the way in which the topic of logic has been treated in the Western philosophical tradition. Topics to be considered include the basic structure of logical arguments, informal fallacies, Aristotelian and Boolean syllogistic logic, propositional logic, and inductive reasoning. Since formal logic is closely related to the fundamental rules governing Mathematics, students are expected to complete homework assignments, quizzes, and examinations that are similar to what they would encounter in a Mathematics course. The main purpose of this course is to assist students in developing skill in recognizing and evaluating the arguments that they encounter throughout their daily lives.

Course Objectives: By the end of the course,

1. The student will be able to identify and evaluative the soundness of arguments encountered in ordinary language.

2. The student will be able to recognize a variety of informal fallacies in the context of everyday speech.

3. The student will be able to understand and employ the tools of symbolic logic, including both its symbolic and propositional varieties.

4. The student will be able to distinguish between deductive and inductive reasoning as well as to understand the essential characteristics of each.

Prerequisites: Algebra I