Formal Logic- Fall 2019

Philosophy 311-01	Office Hours in RH-428 (445-4489)
Formal Logic	MWF - 8:45-9:15am, 10:30-10:45am, Thurs - 1:50-2:15pm, and by appointment
Syllabus for Fall, 2019	Email:kagan@lemoyne.edu
Prof. Michael Kagan	Le Moyne College website: http://web.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/index.html

The course will focus on the development of the ability to analyze and criticize arguments and attempts at persuasion, including those of philosophers using the language and techniques of modern symbolic logic ("formal logic").

REQUIRED TEXTS

W.V. Quine's Methods of Logic, fourth edition (ML)

METHOD

In order to accomplish this goal, we will proceed through discussion and exercises originating in the lecture and reading material, homework, quizzes, and an optional final.

EVALUATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Homework/exercises, participation [50%];
2 quizzes and optional (for those who have taken both quizzes) final [50%]
- the optional final counts as 2 quizzes

SPECIAL NEEDS
In coordination with the Academic Support Center (ASC) and Disability Support Services, reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified students with disabilities. Please register for disability verification and determination of reasonable accommodations. After receiving your accommodation form, you will need to make an appointment with me to review the form and discuss your needs. Please make every attempt to meet with me within the first week of class so your accommodations can be provided in a timely manner. You can either stop by the ASC, Library, 1st floor, or call (445-4118-voice or 445-4104-TDD) to make an appointment.

IMPORTANT DATES:
      No class or office hours on the following times/dates:   Mass of the Holy Spirit – Wednesday, August 28; classes scheduled to meet from 9:30-10:45 will dismiss at 10:30. Classes scheduled for 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m. will not be held. Mon., Sept. 2, Labor Day; Monday, September 30 (Rosh HaShanah); Wednesday, Oct. 9 (Yom Kippur); Oct. 14-15, Fall Break; Nov. 27-Dec. 1, Thanksgiving Break.
   Tuesday, Sep 10: Last day to drop a class with no grade and Last day for Pass/Fail option. Quiz 1 - Wed., Oct. 23. Friday, November 15, last day to withdraw with a "W." Quiz 2 - Mon., Nov. 25. Last day of class: Wed., Dec. 4.
Optional (for those who have completed both quizzes) Final exam - Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 12:00-2:30 P.M.

CLOSINGS/CANCELLATIONS

If campus/dorms are closed due to flu or other circumstances, my intent is that the course continue. Assignments continue to be due by email. Lectures will be replaced by virtual presentations, or extended descriptions of lectures. In addition to notes and group work already available there on-line, I will post updates, lecture notes, etc., to my Le Moyne College website at http://web.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/index.html

As at other times, if your situation results in your needing an extension, please let me know. Also, if internet service is down or there are other infrastructure problems, please complete the assignments and turn them in when services are restored.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS:

Weeks of 8/26 & 9/4 - Read ML, pp. 1-26. Do the exercises on p. 15-16: 1-4; p. 20: 1-2. p. 26: 1-2. Compare your answers to those in the back of the book [p. 305 ff.].
No class or office hours on Mon., Sept. 2, Labor Day.
Weeks of 9/9 & 9/16 - ML, pp. 27-30, pp. 33-38. Do exercises p. 32: 1-4. pp. 40:1-4.
Week of 9/23 - ML, pp. 40-52. Do exercises on p. 45: 1 & 3; p. 52: 2, 3, 5, & 7. On pp. 49 ff., ML, makes much of the distinction between use and mention. How might one abuse this distinction fallaciously?
No class or office hours on Monday, September 30 (Rosh HaShanah).
Week of 10/2 - Read ML, pp. 53-60. Do exercises on pp. 59-60; 1, 2, & 4.
Week of 10/7 - Read ML, pp. 60-74. Do exercises p. 67: 2, 3, 4, & 5. p. 74: 1.
No class or office hours on Wednesday, Oct. 9 (Yom Kippur)
Oct. 14-15, Fall Break
Weeks of 10/16 &10/21 - Read ML, pp. 93-113. Do exercises p. 97:1, 101:1, 108: 1-3. p. 113: 1. Quiz 1 - Wed., Oct. 23.
Week of 10/28 - Read ML, pp. 128-141. Do exercises p. 141: 1-3.
Weeks of 11/4 & 11/11 - Read ML, pp. 142-154. Do exercises on pp. 147-148: 1-3. 154: 2 & 4.

Chapters 25 and 26 (pp. 155-163), and chapters 28 & 29 ( pp 175-189), and the homework assignments from them are now optional.

The revised syllabus for the rest of the semester follows.

· Weeks of 11/4 & 11/11 - Read ML, pp. 142-154. Do exercises on pp. 147-148: 1-3. 154: 2 & 4.

· Weeks of 11/18 & 11/25 - Read ML Ch 27 , 167-174. Do exercises pp. 173-174: 2, 3, 5 & 7 (You may use the "equals sign"). Quiz 2: Mon., Nov. 25.
Nov. 27-Dec. 1, Thanksgiving Break.

· Week of 12/2 - Read ML, pp. 190-203. Do exercises, p. 202-203: 2, 3, & 4. Present limitations and informal logic. Last day of class: Wed., Dec. 4, Final evaluations, if they haven't already taken place, and depending on the implementation of the new evaluation system.)

· Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 12:00-2:30 P.M. - Optional (for those who have completed both quizzes) Final exam.

(Last revised 11/10/19.)
Back to Kagan's Homepage (http://web.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/index.html)

Additional materials for logic