Tentative Schedule

 

 

Definitions

 

Taxonomy of Arguments

 

Tips on Essay Writing

 

Key to Writing Errors and Abbreviations

 

 

Date                             Reading                                    Homework                               Topic

 

I. Introduction to Logic

 

W 1/23                                                                                                                        Introduction to course

M 1/28                         Plato’s Euthyphro                                                                    Definitions

W 1/30                        4-19                                         1.2, 1.4-5                                 Basic Concepts

M 2/4                           124-143                                   4.2-3                                        Judging the Truth of Premises

 

II. Ancient Logic

 

A. Categorical Logic: Reasoning about the Relationship of Groups

                                   

W 2/6                          246-261                                   7.1-2, 7.4                                 Categorical Statements and Venn Diagrams         

M 2/11                         261-270                                   7.6-7                                        Categorical Syllogisms and Validity

W 2/13                        49-53                                       7.8, Handouts                           Relativism and Skepticism

                                                                                                Translation Rules and Practice Exercises

M 2/18    President’s Birthdays

W 2/20      Quiz 1        443-458                                   11.3-5                                      Moral Reasoning

 

B. Inductive Generalization: Looking for Patterns

 

M 2/25                         279-291                                   8.1-2, 8.4-5, CS Portfolio       Inductive Generalization                                   

 

III. Medieval Logic

 

C. Argument from Analogy: Reasoning from Similarities

 

W 2/27                        296-302                                   8.6-7                                        Argument from Analogy

 

D. Informal Fallacies: Bad Arguments that Appear to be Good Arguments

 

M 3/3                           174-187                                   5.2                                           Fallacies with Irrelevant Premises            Fallacy Links

W 3/5                          187-194, 36-49                       5.3-4, 2.3                                 Fallacies with Unacceptable Premises          

M 3/10                         129-136, 143-158                   4.4, Handout,                          cont.

   Fallacy Portfolio     

W 3/12            Midterm Exam

M 3/17    Spring Break

W 3/19   Spring Break

 

VI. Modern Logic

 

E. Propositional Logic: Reasoning about the Relationship of Statements

 

M 3/24  (Withdrawal Deadline)  212-222                  6.2-4                                        Connectives and Truth Values              

W 3/26                        226-233                                   6.8 (1-6, 9), Handout              Truth Tables as a Test for Validity

M 3/31                                                                         Handout1, Handout 2             cont.    

                                                                                       PA Portfolio

F. Causal Reasoning and Inference to the Best Explanation: Explaining Unusual Occurrences

 

W 4/2                          336-343                                   9.2, 9.4-5                                 Explanations vs. Arguments                              

M 4/7                           305-321                                   8.8-10                                      Causal Arguments                    

W 4/9                                                                          Handout                                  Correlation and Explanation in IG and AA

M 4/14                         347-373                                   9.7-8, 9.9 (except ‘E’),            Criteria for Good Theories

                                                                                       CA Portfolio

W 4/16                        383-404                                   10.2-4                                      Scientific Theories

                                                                                                                                         Ptolemy and Copernicus Images

M 4/21                         409-430, Handout                  10.8-10, IBE Portfolio            Judging Unusual Theories                     

                                                                                                                                         Video Debunking the Paranormal

 

V. Using Arguments in the Real World

 

W 4/23      Quiz 2        82-85, 95-108                         3.4 (all), 3.8-9                          Enthymemes and Argument Diagramming

M 4/28                         Essays 1, 2, 5                           Diagram Essays                        Argument Application, Complex Arguments       

                                    467-469, 474-475                   AA Portfolio

W 4/30                        Essays 8, 11, 12                       Diagram Essays                        Complex Arguments cont.

                                    480-482, 489-491

M 5/5                           Handout                                   Handout, IG Portfolio             Group Presentations

                                                                                                                                         Group Presentation Guidelines

W 5/7                          Handout                                   Handout                                   Group Presentations                            

 

                                   

Final Exams    Sec. 1 (2 pm class)                 W 5/14            12:45 – 2:45 pm

                        Sec. 2 (4:45 pm class)            W 5/14            5:15 – 7:15 pm