Course Catalogue

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What does it mean to be more rational? What tools and techniques can be employed to become more rational? This course will address these and related questions by teaching students how to think logically and to reason clearly and methodically about any subject matter. Students will be introduced to foundational concepts and techniques in logic and reasoning, including: the structure of arguments, deduction, induction, rational persuasiveness, logical fallacies, and cognitive biases.

Available in both Block 1 and Block 2

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

For timetable details, please see our web pages at University of Glasgow - Study - Short courses

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The assessment is by:

1. an argument reconstruction exercise (not an essay) (75%)

Students will reconstruct into standard form and then evaluate the arguments to be found in a selected passage, identifying any rhetorical ploys and fallacies. In addition, students will be asked to answer a small number of short explanatory questions about basic logical concepts.

2. An online multiple-choice quiz on basic concepts employed in the course (25%) 

This course aims to:

■ Introduce some of the basic methods and techniques required to think logically.

■ Provide techniques for reasoning clearly and methodically about any subject matter.

■ Examine foundational concepts and techniques in logic and reasoning.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Apply central logical concepts, such as induction, deduction, and rational persuasiveness.

■ Employ basic techniques of argument reconstruction and evaluation.

■ Explain core logical concepts.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.