Elementary formal logic: an introduction ADED11795E

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: Short Courses
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 1 (SCQF level 7)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

The rules of logic have been developed over more than two millennia by contributions from numerous philosophers, mathematicians, and empirical scientists, including famous names such as Socrates, Plato, Leibniz, Boole, Frege, and Russell. But what are those rules, exactly? And how can they applied to produce logical proofs? This course will address these and related questions by introducing students to some of the basic elements of formal logic.

Timetable

Block 2

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

Tuesday, 19.00-21.00

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The assessment is by

1. A 60 minute class test taken in the final class of the course in which students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the formal methods of proof taught in the course and to demonstrate translations between ordinary language and formal logical notation (75%)

2. One online multiple-choice quiz on basic logical concepts (25%)

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce some of the basic elements of formal logic.

■ Examine the foundational concepts and techniques in formal logic, including basic logical notation, translating from ordinary language into the language of formal logic, and producing logical proofs.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ Apply central logical concepts such as semantic entailment and truth functionality.

■ Translate from ordinary language into formal logical notation (and vice versa).

■ Employ formal proof methods.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

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