PHI 201, Introductory Logic

Spring 2006

Web page. http://www.princeton.edu/~hhalvors/teaching/phi201_s2006

Assistants in Instruction.

Prerequisites. None

Required Textbook. E. J. Lemmon, Beginning Logic. ISBN: 0915144506. Available from the U Store among other places.

Optional Reading. If you find Lemmon's text to be too terse, then we recommend Paul Tomassi's book Logic as an additional study aid. (Note: Different logic textbooks use different formal systems, and so not just any such text will be helpful in studying for this course.)

Course Description. A person makes an "argument" when they make a claim and try to back that claim up with some evidence. In other words, an argument consists of a claim and some reasons that are supposed to support the claim. Of course, you make and evaluate arguments all of the time, and probably with a good amount of skill. But in this class we step back and ask: what makes a good argument? What principles should we employ to discriminate between good and bad arguments?

To keep things simple, we focus first on deductive arguments -- where the premises of the argument are supposed to "entail" its conclusion. Due to some remarkable progress made in the 20th century, we now have a simple and elegant formal characterization of good deductive arguments. In this course, you will learn the details of this characterization, and you will learn to use it to extend your skill and confidence at making and evaluating arguments.

Course Objectives. If you successfully complete this course, then ...

• You will be able to judge with complete confidence whether an argument is good or bad, based on its underlying logical form. (In order to do this, you will also need to be able to uncover the logical form of sentences in English.)
• When an argument is good, you will be able to show this by producing a proof.
• When an argument is bad, you will be able to show this by demonstrating that its premises are consistent with the negation of its conclusion.

Lectures. Tues & Thurs, 10:00-10:50am in Friend Center, Room 101.

Precepts. Precepts meet one hour per week, beginning the second week of classes. You will be able to enter your precept preference in blackboard (http://blackboard.princeton.edu) from roughly 7pm on Tuesday, Feb 7 until 10am on Thursday, Feb 9. Please note: The system is insensitive to when you enter your preference; there is no advantage to being the first person to enter a preference. If your original precept assignment conflicts with another course or precept, you can request a change into a different section by sending e-mail to the Keeper of the Precept List (Mark Budolfson: mbudolfs). The Keeper is not permitted to overenroll a precept. If you drop the course, please notify the Keeper so that he can delete your name from the precept list. If you are waiting for a reply concerning a requested precept change, then you should attend your originally assigned precept -- unless this precept conflicts with the lecture for another course, in which case you may attend the precept you have requested to enter. If you are still unsure of your precept assignment at the time the first homework assignment is due, you should submit your assignment (with an accompanying note) to the Professor.

Requirements and Grades.

• Homework Assignments (40%): There will be approximately one homework assignment per week. Your homework should be turned in either directly to your preceptor, or to his/her mailbox in room 211 (second floor) of 1879 Hall. Do not turn your homework in to the boxes on the first floor between Marx and 1879 Halls. Those boxes are for your preceptor to return your work to you. Please label homework with your name, your preceptor's name, and precept time. Illegible homework will be penalized. Late homework will be accepted only in case of a documented medical emergency.
• Midterm Exam (25%): Warning: There is only fifty minutes for the midterm exam, and this will put your under time-pressure. The way to deal with this issue is by practicing a lot in the weeks leading up to the exam.
• Final Exam (35%)

Academic Integrity. In-class examinations are closed-book, closed-notes, and your behavior is to be governed by the honor code. Regarding homework assignments, we encourage preliminary discussions and brainstorming among students. However, in no case should a student submit a solution to a problem that does not largely represent her/his own work. If in doubt about the status of a collaborative effort, please discuss the case with your preceptor.

Disability Information. If you have a disability, you should notify the Professor and the appropriate administrative offices at the beginning of the semester so that we can make accommodations for you.

Grievance Procedures are described in Princeton's Rights, Rules, Responsibilities handbook.