Mt. San Antonio College
Semester: Fall 2018
Syllabus/Outline
Days: MW
Times: CRN 23480 - 9:45am - 11:10am and CRN 20160 - 11:30am - 12:55pm
Location:
Professor: Charles T. McGruder, Ph.D.
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email: cmcgruder@mtsac.edu
Faculty Page: https://faculty.mtsac.edu/cmcgruder/
Class Webpage: https://inside.mtsac.edu
Textbook
Logic - Custom Edition
13th edition by Patrick J. Hurley, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-337-45006-5
Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 6
The Custom Edition is available at Mt. SAC Bookstore (SacBookRac)
The Custom Edition comes from: A Concise Introduction to Logic
13th edition by Patrick J. Hurley, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1-305-95809-8
(You should have the textbook the first day of class)
If you have the 12th edition or a different edition of the Textbook, that is fine.
Dictionary - College Level
English Handbook
Handouts
Glossary, Uses of Language, Definitions,
Seven Steps in Argument Analysis, Validity and Strength,
Instructions for Fallacy Notebook,
Induction, Deduction and the Scientific Method
Critical Thinking Format/Study Sheet
Course Description
The analysis of language as an instrument of sound thinking in morals, politics, and everyday life. The course is designed to assist students to analyze an argument, avoid faulty conclusions in reasoning, understand levels of meaning and kinds of arguments, avoid verbal pitfalls, understand the steps of scientific methods, and identify value assumptions. Honors courses are designed to provide an enriched experience for accelerated students. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 3 and PHIL 3H.
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to “do philosophy.” Wonder is central to philosophy, not only as a starting point but also as a principle and foundation from which everything else proceeds. Philosophy is a radicalization of wonder in all directions. But radicalization is a slow process and we are obliged to work the same ground over and over again. Only in this way can the process continue and only thus can it realize its total potential. To do philosophy is to conscientiously immerse ourselves in the process and product of seeking meaning in the world. Our primary concern is for the personal dimension which plays/works in the creation and criticism of all claims to knowledge and understanding. We will use “content” and “information”, however our concern is the context for transformation.
Goals
An enhanced self/social understanding. An enhanced capacity to be philosophical,
to grapple with language and values
to discern value judgments, to relate meaning/facts/attitudes
A disciplined engagement with contemporary themes and issues in life
An enlargement of communication and critical thinking skills
An introduction to propositional logic/formal logic
Use of visual/analytical methods
Grading
90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D, 50% = F
Homework: 60% of grade; Chapter Exams: 20% of grade; Final Exam: 20% of grade.
Bring a red pen to every class meeting!
If there is no name on your work/paper, then you will earn no credit!
Homework should be typed.
Exercises will be assigned for every class. All assignments will be pointed.
I run a straight point system, so you can compute your grade
by dividing the number of points earned by the total number of points possible.
Check Canvas for the status of your grade.
Please note:
Neatness and whether or not all instructions have been followed
will be factors in the grade.
Measurable Objectives
The student will:
1. Identify different uses of language and use them appropriately.
2. Recognize good reasoning from bad reasoning.
3. Identify and correctly label the fallacies used in everyday speech,
as well as in politics, advertising, and literature.
4. Employ logical rules to organize their thoughts, solve personal problem as well as academic problems.
5. Analyze and diagram ordinary language arguments to outline their structure and consistency.
6. Classify and Evaluate arguments as inductive or deductive
and determine validity and strength, soundness and cogency.
7. Reformulate natural language into symbolic form to determine its validity with Truth Tables.
8. Define terms and evaluate definitions employing the rules of definitions
to avoid or detect ambiguity, vagueness, and circularity.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
SLOs are: Pre and Post Quizzes
Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory in all of my classes.
Last day to drop without a "W": September 6
Last day to drop with a "W": September 28
Drop Policy
Any student missing more than 20% of class or assignments
before the drop date must be dropped by the professor.
Make up Policy
No make ups allowed. I will accept assignments early, but not late.
ACCESS Accommodations
Mt. SAC strives to make its courses accessible to everyone. It specifically considers features that make its courses accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those using assistive technology for computer access. if you need special accommodations, please contact both the professor and Mt. SAC Accessibility Resource Centers for Students (ACCESS) at 274-4290 or http://www.mtsac.edu/dsps/
Writing Center
The Writing Center offers free tutoring and workshops to help students with writing in any course at Mt. SAC. Also, the Center’s computer lab offers printing services, access to the Internet, and lab tutors to help students with their writing while working at their computers. The Writing Center is located in 26B-100, behind the Clock Tower. For tutoring, students can stop by to make an appointment or call (909) 274-5325. You can also visit their website at http://writingcenter.mtsac.edu/ for more information.
To locate the course:
Login to: https://inside.mtsac.edu/ and enter User name and Password.
Click on the eLearning Resources tab.
Click on Sign on to MtSAC Canvas.
Click on CRN of PHIL 3 - Introduction to Logic
Follow Assignments in Canvas (Due Dates are in Canvas)
Week Discussion Topic and Reading
1 Introduction - Language a Living Thing!
Read: Chapter 2
2.1 Varieties of Meaning: Cognitive and Emotive Meaning
2.2 Intension and Extension of Terms
Read: 2.3
2 2.3 Definition and Their Purposes
Read: 2.4
2.4 Definitional Techniques
Read: 2.5
3 2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions
Handout: Uses of Language
Handout: Definition
Chapter 2 Exam
Read: Chapter 1
Read: 1.1
4 1.1 Arguments; Premises; Conclusions
Read: 1.2
1.2 Recognizing Arguments
Read: 1.3
Classifying Arguments
5 1.3 Deduction & Induction
Read: 1.4
1.4 Validity; Truth; Soundness; Strength; Cogency
Read: Handout - Validity & Strength
Evaluating Arguments
6 1.4 Handout - Validity & Strength
1.4 Handout - Validity & Strength
1.5 Argument Forms: Proving Invalidity
7 Chapter 1 Exam
Read: Chapter 3
3.1 Fallacies in General
3.2 Fallacies of Relevance
Read: 3.3
8 3.3 Fallacies of Weak Induction
Review for Quiz
Read: 3.4
Quiz - Fallacies of Relevance &
Weak Induction
3.4 Fallacies of Presumption, Ambiguity, and Illicit Transference
3.5 Fallacies in Ordinary Language (Outline)
Review for Exam
9 Chapter 3 Exam - All Fallacies
Read: Chapter 6
6.1 Symbols & Translation (Notation)
Operators or Connectives
Well-Formed Formulas (WFFs)
Read 6.2
10 6.2 Truth Functions
Definitions of the Logical Operators
Read: 6.3
6.3 Truth Tables for Propositions
Classifying Statement
11 6.3 Comparing Statements
Read: 6.4
6.4 Truth Tables for Arguments
12 6.4 Truth Tables for Argument
Review for Comprehensive Glossary Exam
Comprehensive Glossary Exam
Read: 6.5, 6.6
13 6.5 Indirect Truth Tables
Testing Arguments for Validity
Testing Statements for Consistency
14 6.6 Arguments Forms and Fallacies
Handout: Problem Solving
Induction, Deduction & the Scientific Method
Thanksgiving Holiday!
15 Comprehensive Final Exam in class December 3 and 5
16 Correct Final Exam
Final Exam for PHIL 3 11:30 Class:
Monday, December 10 Meet at 10:30am
Final Exam for PHIL 3H 9:45 Class:
Wednesday, December 12 Meet at 9:00am
| Last Updated: 10/19/22 |