Official version of the syllabus here.
Overview
What makes an argument good? How do you show that someone has reasoned invalidly? In this course we will study arguments and reasoning both informally as well as with the tools and techniques of formal deductive logic. We learn the syntax and semantics of propositional and first-order logic (polyadic with identity), and we will use them to explicate the notion of a valid argument. We then apply our formal logical techniques to a variety of domains, such as the domain of sets (abstract collections of objects). Topics include syntax, semantics, pragmatics, consistency, proof, logical consequence, logical equivalence, logical truth, logical form, set theory, infinity, paradoxes, truth functionality, binary numbers, logic gates, truth tables, quantification, relations, functions, interpretations, models, soundness, and completeness. We will also discuss connections between formal logic and computability theory, philosophy of language, cognitive science, foundations of mathematics, and metalogic (theorems about logical systems themselves).
Course Structure
For Summer 2021, this course is remote and asynchronous, so you do not need to be available during any of class time. Lectures will be pre-recorded and uploaded to Canvas, so you can watch them any time. But there will be optional office hours/live class on Tuesdays from 1:10-3:20 p.m.
Warning
This is a difficult and fast-paced course. We have problem sets due roughly every other day. Furthermore, all the material is cumulative, so you must keep up with all the work in order to succeed. That does not mean that this class will be all work and no fun. This is the most fun class on campus! (In my biased opinion.) But you must know what you are getting into if you take this course.
The midterm and final exams for this course are required. They will be timed Canvas quizzes available on specific days. The midterm exam can be done on Thursday or Friday of week 2 (July 1 or 2) and the final exam will be the last day of the Summer A term (Weds., July 21). You will have several hours to take the exams once you start them. You do not need to take them at an exact time, but you do have to take them on those days. Do not enroll in this course unless you can commit to taking the exams on those days!