Course goals
This introductory logic course is focused on the basic issues in logic, such as the distinction between factual and logical truths, the conditions of the formal analysis of thought, elementary logical relations (contradiction and entailment), the issues of validity of inferential knowledge, formal and informal requirements for arguments and proofs, and the most widely used methods of formal proofs. The student will become familiar with the theory of categorical syllogism and propositional calculus. In addition to that classroom exercises are devoted to the practice of formalization – translating the expressions of natural language into the formal language, formal analysis of validity of arguments and consistency of propositions. The main methods applied during the course are as follows: Venn diagramms, truth tables, and natural deduction proof methods (including conditional and indirect proofs). This course aims to introduce students to the theoretical basics of logic, main methods of logical analysis and their applications.
Course results
- To understand theoretical basics of logic and main methods of logical analysis.
- Be able to recognize formal and informal fallacies of reasoning and proofs.
- Be able to determine if the statements (assumptions of an inference and premises of a proof) are consistent.
- Be able to think in a structured and consistent way.
- To perceive importance of the logical inference, be able to correct informal fallacies in argumentation.
