Philosophy 110, Course Overview

Before you enter this course, read carefully this overview, course evaluation, course assignments, course mechanics, and self-check activities.

Course Title: Introduction to Logic

Instructor: Professor Ronald C. Pine, Ph.D.

Course Credits: 3

Course Description:  The course develops basic techniques of analysis and an understanding of the principles and concepts involved in clear thinking.  Emphasized will be logical validity, deductive and inductive reasoning, fallacious arguments, symbolic logic, and scientific method as applied to criteria of reasonable evidence.

This course fulfills the Symbolic Reasoning requirement for the Foundation requirement for Honolulu Community College and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  See the Manoa General Education requirements.

Prerequisites or Recommended Preparation: Should be able to read and write at the college level (Eng. 22 or 100), and possess basic Internet skills.

Course Purpose:  Because we live in a highly technological society, students should gain a basic understanding and appreciation of formal reasoning and its connection with the informal reasoning of every day life.  Students should also gain an understanding of the basic software foundations for our machines (computers, game consoles, cell phones, etc.), and the process of putting human thoughts into these machines.  Additionally, the course is based on the assumption that the less we think critically the more someone else will think for us -- usually with the intention of manipulating us. From this point of view, logic can be viewed as a defensive tool enabling each of us to defend ourselves against the onslaught of persuasive appeals that bombard our minds daily. As such it is an important element in the development of individual potential -- enabling us to be freer and more decisive individuals.

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:  Students will

Text: Essential Logic: Basic Reasoning Skills for the Twenty-First Century, Ronald C. Pine (Harcourt, 1996)

Qualified students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations in this course. Students with disabilities may obtain information on available services online at honolulu.hawaii.edu/disability.  Specific inquires may be made by contacting Student ACCESS at 844-2392, by e-mail at access@hcc.hawaii.edu, or by simply stopping by the office located in 2/409.

Course Content and Schedule: Below is the 16-week schedule.  For summer see the Ten-Week Schedule

Week       Topic (s) 
1
 Chapter 1: Introduction and key terminology -- valid, invalid, and sound deductive arguments.
2
 Continuation of Chapter 1 -- Exercises I and III.
3
 Chapter 2: Recognizing arguments, uses of language, and reliable beliefs -- Exercises I and II.
4
 Chapter 3: Inductive reasoning and reliable beliefs -- Exercises I, II, and III.
5
 Chapter 4: Informal Fallacies -- fallacies of relevance. Exercises I and II.
6
 Chapter 5: Informal Fallacies -- fallacies of questionable premise, weak induction, and presumption. Exercises I and II.  Exam on Chapters 1-5  = 120pts.
7
 Chapter 7: Symbolic Translation. Exercises I, II, and III. 
8
 Chapter 8: Truth Tables. Exercises I and II.
9
 Chapter 8: Truth Tables. Exercises III and IV.
10
 Chapter 9: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 1 Exercise.
11
 Chapter 9: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 2 Exercise.
12
 Chapter 9: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 3 Exercise and translations (pp. 316-318)
13
 Chapter 10: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 4 Exercise.
14
 Chapter 10: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 5 Exercise.
15
 Chapter 10: Formal Proofs of Validity -- Step 6 Exercise and translations (pp. 347-350)
16
 Chapter 12: Fuzzy Logic.  Final Exam = 200 pts.

{short description of image}