Philosophy 112

COVID-19 Amendments

This schedule has been updated to reflect the fact that we are now an online class. This document outlines what we did when the class was face-to-face, and includes links to readings, homework assignments and class handouts. For guidance on how to proceed now that we are entirely online, see the guide.


Introduction: Basic Concepts of Logic

The course began with an introduction to the basic concepts of logic: argument, premise, conclusion, validity; logical form and formal validity; and (syntactic) ambiguity. This material is covered in the first half of Chapter 1.

The Syntax of Sentential Logic

We then began to explore Sentential Logic, introducing sentence letters, our five connectives, and the syntactic rules that govern how they can be combined into symbolic sentences. We also learned about how to parse a sentence, and how to identify its main connective.

The beginning of Chapter 2 introduced the distinction between formal notation and informal notation, and the conventions for dropping parentheses, which we discussed in the next class meeting.

Translation and Symbolization for Conditionals and Negations

We then turned to consider translating from symbols to English, and from English to symbols, putting aside all of the connectives except for ‘¬’ and ‘→’.

Direct Derivations

Chapter 3 introduced Direct Derivations, and our four basic rules for Conditionals and Negations: DNI, DNE, MP, and MT.

Conditional Derivations

Chapter 4 introduced Conditional Derivations.

Nested Derivations

Chapter 5 introduced Nested Derivations.

Indirect Derivations

Chapter 6 introduces Indirect Derivations.

First Midterm

At this point, we had a day for review (2-11), followed by our first midterm exam, on 2-13.

Derived Rules

After the midterm, we covered one more topic concerning derivations just involving conditionals and negations: Derived Rules.

Derivations involving all our connectives

At this point, we reintroduced conjunctions, disjunctions, and biconditionals, and introduced six new rules to handle them: S, ADJ, MTP, ADD, CB, and BC.

Translation and Symbolization with all the connectives

Having considered derivations with all the connectives, we then considered how to translate sentences containing all the connectives, both from symbols to English, and from English to symbols.

Truth Tables

In our final week before Spring Break (and subsequently becoming an online class), we shifted our attention to a different method for thinking about validity and logical truth: Truth Tables. First, we considered how to use Truth Tables to determine whether or not a given sentence is a tautology.

And, on our last day meeting face to face, we considered how to use truth tables to determine whether or not an argument is valid.

Actually, things got a bit mixed up. Problem Set 12, Problem Set 14, and the problems in Truth Tables and Validity were all left to be due on 3-17. But that week of classes was cancelled. I have adjusted the due dates for these assignments to the end of the term, but I encourage you to complete them as you review sentential logic.

Spring Break

OMG! Like, the whole world kind of fell apart. Spring Break was extended for an extra week, and all of our classes moved online.

What Now?

See the guide for guidance on what to do now.