COURSE OBJECTIVE

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

REQUIRED TEXT

The related text is Quine's Methods of Logic, fourth edition.

METHOD

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

EVALUATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

1. class attendance and participation [10%];
2. the exercises [20%]
3. midterm [20%]
4. and the final [50%].

• 1. Assignment due, read Quine 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.].
• 2. Quine, pp. 27-30, pp. 33-38. Do exercises p. 32: 1-4, 40:1-4.
• 3. Quine, pp. 40-52. Do exercises on p. 45: 1 & 3, p. 52: 2, 3, 5, & 7. On pp. 49 ff., Quine makes much of the distinction between use and mention. How might one abuse this distinction fallaciously?
• 4. Read Quine pp. 53-60, do exercises on pp. 59-60; 1, 2, & 4.
• 5. Read Quine, pp. 60-74. Do exercises p. 67: 2, 3, 4, & 5; p. 74: 1.
• 6. Read Quine pp. 93-113. Do exercises p. 97:1, 101:1, 108: 1-3, 113: 1.
• 7. Read Quine pp. 132-141; do exercises p. 141: 1-3.
• 8. Read Quine, pp. 142-154. Do exercises on pp. 147-148: 1-3, 154: 2 & 4.
• 9. Read Quine, pp. 155-163; do exercises on p. 162: 1.
• 10. Read Quine pp. 167-182. Do exercises pp. 173-174: 2, 3, 5, & 7 [You may use the "equals sign"]; and  p. 181: 1.
• 11. Read Quine, pp. 182-203. Do exercises, p. 202-203: 2, 3, & 4.
• 12. Read Quine, p. 259-283. Do exercises pp. 267: 1-2, 277-278: 1-2, 283: 1.
• 13. Final.

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