Unit information: Introduction to Formal Logic in 2020/21

Unit name	Introduction to Formal Logic
Unit code	PHIL10014
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Catrin Campbell-Moore
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Philosophy
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces the student to the analysis of arguments and to the tools of formal logic. It provides students with the methods to discern and analyse the structure of an argument and to distinguish good arguments from bad ones. Students will see a variety of informal arguments and be able to characterise them as valid, inductive, or fallacious. Formal logic will be introduced and students will see how it can be used as a tool in the evaluation of arguments. Students will also obtain familiarity with formal logic and a grasp of logical properties such as consistency, validity, derivability and soundness.

Students on this unit will be expected to start with the mathematical familiarity that would be obtained in A-level mathematics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit students will be able to

1. Analyse the structure of arguments found in everyday contexts;
2. Formalise natural language arguments into the languages of propositional and predicate logic;
3. Show formal arguments are valid using a proof system;
4. Understand logical concepts such as consistency, validity, derivability and soundness;
5. Identify fallacious arguments;
6. Construct clear arguments.

Teaching Information

Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.

Assessment Information

Summative: take-home open-book exam - 100% [designed to test ILOs 1-6] + Formative: regular short on-line problem sheets [designed to test ILOs 1-6]

Reading and References

Logic, by G. Restall, 2005, Routledge