Logic (Level 4)

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Convenor and tutor: Dr Florian Steinberger
• Assessment: two examinations (50% each)

Logic, 'the science of reasoning', investigates the difference between good and bad deductive arguments. As such, logic is an essential element of any philosopher’s toolkit, as well as an area of philosophical inquiry in its own right.

A natural language like English is full of imprecision and ambiguity; in this module we introduce sentential logic with its own formal, logically precise language, which enables us to lay bare the logically relevant features of natural language so that we can evaluate the correctness of arguments. In a further step, we introduce predicate logic, an extension of sentential logic, which allows us to assess an even wider array of arguments.

This module equips you with a solid foundation in logic crucial to the practice of philosophy, as well as other disciplines such as computer science, linguistics and the cognitive sciences.

Indicative syllabus

• Natural and formal languages
• Types and tokens
• Use and mention
• Validity and soundness
• Semantics
• Deduction
• Quantification
• Sets and relations

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand some of the basic concepts and issues involved in the study of logic, such as types and tokens, use and mention, validity and soundness, semantics, deduction, quantification, sets and relations
• identify some of the different ways in which natural languages can be translated into propositional and quantificational logic
• identify and apply the concepts and rules deployed in propositional and quantificational logic
• apply taught criteria for evaluating arguments for both validity and soundness when formulated in either natural language or propositional/quantificational logic.