Selected course
Logic and Argument
PHIL 101
An introduction to formal and informal logic, with application to clear reasoning and sound argumentation.
View Course
Academics
The Discipline of Clear Thought
Logic, epistemology, ethics and the examination of first principles.
Six fields of inquiry
Logic
Formal and informal reasoning, validity and proof.
Epistemology
Knowledge, evidence, justification and uncertainty.
Ethics
Obligation, consequence and the examined life.
Philosophy of Mind
Consciousness, representation and machine minds.
Philosophy of Science
Explanation, falsification and scientific method.
Political Philosophy
Justice, institutions and the governance of power.
In this course
- Propositional and predicate logic
- Validity, soundness and fallacy
- Argument reconstruction
- Reasoning under uncertainty
Assessment
Problem sets 25% · Closed-book examination 30% · Implementation or research project 35% · Oral defense 10%. Pass requires 80% on the examination and defense, 85% on problem sets and the project.
Build standard
Every argument is reconstructed before it is judged.
