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.
- Class meeting: Jan 14
- Handout 1
- Reading: First half of Chapter 1
- Homework and Reading: Arguments and Validity
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.
- Class meeting: Jan 16
- Handout 2
- Reading: Our Formal Language
- Homework: Problem Set 1
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.
- Class meeting: Jan 21
- Handout 3
- Reading Chapter 2, Official and Unoffical Notation
- Homework: Problem Set 2, Chapter 1 Review
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 ‘→’.
- Class meeting: Jan 23
- Handout 4
- Reading: Chapter 2, Translation
- Homework: Problem Set 3
Direct Derivations
Chapter 3 introduced Direct Derivations, and our four basic rules for Conditionals and Negations: DNI, DNE, MP, and MT.
- Class Meeting: Jan 28
- Handout 5
- Reading: Chapter 3
- Homework: Problem Set 4, Chapter 2 Review
Conditional Derivations
Chapter 4 introduced Conditional Derivations.
- Class Meeting: Jan 30
- Handout 6
- Reading: Chapter 4
- Homework: Problem Set 5, Chapter 3 Review
Nested Derivations
Chapter 5 introduced Nested Derivations.
- Class Meeting: Feb 04
- Handout 7
- Reading: Chapter 5
- Homework: Problem Set 6, Chapter 4 Review
Indirect Derivations
Chapter 6 introduces Indirect Derivations.
- Class Meeting: Feb 06
- Handout 9
- Reading: Chapter 6
- Homework: Problem Set 7
First Midterm
At this point, we had a day for review (2-11), followed by our first midterm exam, on 2-13.
- Handout 10
- Homework: Midterm 1 Review
Derived Rules
After the midterm, we covered one more topic concerning derivations just involving conditionals and negations: Derived Rules.
- Class Meeting: Feb 18
- Handout 11
- Reading: Chapter 7, Using Derived Rules in Carnap
- Homework: Problem Set 8
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.
- Class Meetings: Feb 20 and Feb 25
- Handout 12
- Handout 13
- Reading: Chapter 8
- Homework: Problem Set 9
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.
- Class Meeting: Feb 27
- Handout 14
- Reading: Chapter 9, Derived Rules
- Homework: Problem Set 10
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.
- Class Meeting: Mar 03
- Handout 15
- Reading: Chapter 10
- Homework: Problem Set 11, Problem Set 13
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.
- Class Meeting: Mar 22
- Handout 16
- Reading: Truth Tables and Validity
- Homework: Truth Tables and Validity, Problem Set 14
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.