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In this century, logic has grown into a major
discipline with applications to mathematics, philosophy, computer science, linguistics
and cognitive science. The goal of the logic minor is to provide students with the
tools, techniques and concepts necessary to appreciate logic and to apply it to other
fields.
100 Valid and Invalid Reasoning: What Follows
from What?
Formal logic and its application to the evaluation of everyday arguments, the abstract
properties of logical systems, the implications of inconsistency. Examples drawn
from law, philosophy, economics, literary criticism, political theory, commercials,
mathematics, psychology, computer science, off-topic debating and the popular press.
Deduction and induction, logical symbolism and operations, paradoxes and puzzles.
May not be taken for credit with PHI 202.
101 Plausible and Implausible Reasoning: What
Happened? What Will Happen Next?
This course is designed for students who are uncomfortable with symbolic systems.
It will provide an elementary introduction to the structure and function of propositional
and predicate logic. This will include translating ordinary language statements and
arguments into symbolic form; using truth tables to calculate truth values and determine
the validity of arguments in finite universes; quantification in infinite universes;
direct, indirect and conditional proof techniques in propositional and predicate
logic. The course will also survey topics in inductive logic involving probabilistic
and statistical reasoning and elements of decision theory. Enrollment limited to
24.
404 Special Studies
Offered both semesters each year.
Minors in logic, to be designed in consultation
with a co-director, will consist of at least 20 credits including:
LOG 100 or PHI 202, but not both
MTH 153 or CSC 250
MTH 217 or PHI 220
Additional courses may be chosen from the following
list:
CSC 111 Computer Science I
CSC 250 Foundations of Computer Science
CSC 270 Digital Circuits and Computer Systems
CSC 290 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CSC 294 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
LOG 404 Special Studies in Logic
MTH 153 Discrete Mathematics
MTH 217 Mathematical Structures
PHI 203 Topics in Symbolic Logic
PHI 220 Logic and the Undecidable
PHI 236 Linguistic Structures
PHI 322 Topics in Advanced Logic
Depending on the topic, the courses listed below may
also be taken for Logic minor credit:
CSC 390 Seminar in Artificial Intelligence
MTH 224 Topics in Geometry
MTH 238 Topics in Number Theory
MTH 343 Topics in Mathematical Analysis
MTH 350 Topics in the History of Mathematics
PHI 362 Seminar: Philosophy of Language
There are also courses at Five College institutions
that may be acceptable, courses in linguistics and law, for example.
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