MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

PHI103  1998 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Introduction to Logic

1.

Distinguish between validity and soundness of arguments. (I)

2.

Extract the logical structure of a statement or an argument and use as a basis for logical evaluation. (II)

3.

Identify common argument forms underlying ordinary language discourse. (III)

4.

Assess the strength and credibility of claims made in ordinary language. (IV)

5.

Identify and evaluate common fallacies in ordinary language and/or formal reasoning. (V)

6.

Restate a statement or an argument in equivalent form. (VI)

7.

Use truth tables or truth trees to evaluate arguments. (VII)

8.

Apply the rules and methods of traditional and/or symbolic logic to translate, analyze, and evaluate statements and arguments. (VIII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

PHI103  1998 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Introduction to Logic

I. The nature of logic

A. Definition

B. Validity

C. Soundness

II. Logical structures

A. Statement forms

B. Argument forms

III. Common argument forms

A. Identifying arguments in ordinary language

B. Determining the underlying structure

IV. Strength and credibility of claims

A. Analyzing ordinary language

B. Determining the strength of a claim

C. Determining the credibility of a claim

V. Common fallacies

A. In ordinary language

B. In formal logic

VI. Equivalencies

A. Restating statements

B. Restating arguments

VII. Truth tables/truth trees

VIII. Rules and methods for logical analysis

A. Traditional logic

1. Translation techniques

2. Methods of analysis

3. Evaluation techniques

B. Symbolic logic

1. Translation techniques

2. Methods of analysis

3. Evaluation techniques