Phil312_Syllabus_Spring09.htm

Philosophy 312: Formal Logic

Timothy Cleveland

Spring 2009

SYLLABUS

Course Text: Jon Barwise and John Etchemendy, Language, Proof, and Logic (CSLI Publications, 1999) with software packet. You must an unused software CD in order to submit homework assignments. Beware of purchasing used copies online. Also see the website http://www-csli.stanford.edu/LPL/

Description: This course is an introduction to symbolic logic. The student will master propositional logic and develop a working understanding of quantification theory. The student will also learn to translate between formal languages and ordinary discourse.

Course Requirements: The student's grade will be based on three things: (1) how well s/he masters the material in the homework assignments listed below from the textbook; (2) Unannounced in-class quizzes; and (3) two in-class exams—a mid-term and a final. Exercises will be worked using the software provided with the text and will be submitted online.

The homework will count 50% of the course grade. No late homework will be accepted. The in-class quizzies will count 10%. Each in-class exam will count 20%.

Make-up exams will be given only under exceptional circumstances (such as serious illness, bereavement, or university-sponsored trips). There will be no extra-credit assignments.

Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of the course. For details on plagiarism see NMSU Guidelines.

10% of the course grade will be based on short in-class. On randomly chosen days throughout the semester, there will be a short quiz that will be collected and graded. You will only be allowed to make up these quizzies if you have notified me in advance that you are unable to attend and if you have properly verified your reason for missing the class on that day.

Students with Disabilities: Feel free to call Michael Armendariz, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at 505-646-6840 with any questions you may have on student issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All medical information will be treated confidentially.

Feel free to call Jerry Nevarez, Coordinator of Institutional Equity, at 505-646-3635 with any questions about NMSU's Non-Discrimination Policy and complaints of discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Attendance Policy: Missing more than four classes can affect your final grade adversely; i.e., based on the instructor’s discretion, your final letter grade can be lower after four absences. Missing more than three weeks of class consecutively will result in automatic failure!

NMSU email: Official communication to you will often come through your NMSU e-mail box.
Please access it regularly, or forward it to your current use address, as your success in college may ride on your ability to respond quickly.

Office Hours: Monday 1:30-3:00 pm and by appointment, Breland Hall 328, telephone 646-4444, e-mail: tclevela@nmsu.edu

Readings, Homework, and Exams:

Jan. 14 Introduction, pp. 1-10; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 8-10; AND begin Ch. 1, pp. 19-30.

Jan. 19 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY

Jan. 21 Ch. 1, pp. 19-30; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 24-25; 1.1-1.5, pp. 25-25, 1.9, pp. 30-31

Jan. 26, 28 Ch. 2, pp. 41-66; exercises: 2.1, pp. 44-45; "You Try It" pp. 58-61; 2.15-2.20, p. 62; "You Try It" pp. 64-65; 2.21-2.27, pp. 65-66

Feb. 2, 4 Ch. 3, pp. 67-88; exercises: "You Try It" p. 69; 3.2, 3.3, p. 70; "You Try It" pp. 72-73; 3.5-3.7, pp. 73-4; "You Try It" p. 76; 3.8-3.10, p. 76-77; "You Try It" pp. 80-1; 3.12-3.16, p. 81; 3.18, p. 83; 3.20-3.23, pp. 86-88; AND begin Ch. 4, pp. 93-117.

Feb. 9, 11 Ch. 4, pp. 93-117; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 100-101; 4.1-4.7 (not 4.3), pp. 104-5; 4.12-4.18, p. 109; 4.20-4.24, p. 113; "You Try It" pp. 114-115; "You Try It" p. 116; 4.26-4.30, pp. 116-117; AND Ch. 5, pp. 127-139; exercises: 5.15-5.18, p. 139.

Feb. 16, 18, 23, 25 Ch. 6, pp. 142-175; exercises: All "You Try It" exercises pp. 143-154; 6.1-6.6, p. 154, All "You try It" exercises pp. 156-161; 6.7-6.16, pp. 162-163; 6.18-6.20, p. 166; "You Try It" pp. 168-170; 6.21-6.31, pp. 172-173; 6.33-6.39, pp. 174-175.

Mar. 2 Review

Mar. 4 Mid-term exam

Mar. 9 Last Day to Withdraw with a 'W'

Mar. 9, 11 Ch. 7, pp. 176-187, exercises: 7.1-7.8, 7.10-7.13, pp. 183-185; AND Ch. 8, pp. 198-213, 222-223; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 207-208, 210-212; 8.17-8.37, pp. 212-213; 8.44-8.53, p. 223.

Mar. 16, 18 Ch. 9, pp. 227-250; exercises: 9.1-9.3, p. 234; 9.5-9.6, pp. 238-239; "You Try It" p. 240; 9.8-9.9, p. 241; 9.12-9.13, p. 242;

Mar. 23-27 SPRING BREAK

Mar. 30, Apr. 1 Continue Ch. 9, "You Try It" pp. 245-246; 9.15-9.18, pp. 248-250; AND Ch. 10, pp. 257-279; exercises: "You Try It" p. 272; 10.8, p. 273; 10.22, p. 279.

Apr. 6, 8 Ch. 11, pp. 289-297; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 290-291; 11.1-11.4, pp. 291-293; "You Try It" p. 292; 11.8-11.14, pp. 296-297.

Apr. 13, 15 Ch. 12, pp. 319-337; exercises: 12.4-12.10, pp. 328-329; 12.16-12.221, pp. 336-337; AND beginCh. 13, pp. 342-360.

Apr. 20, 22 Ch. 13, pp. 342-351; exercises: "You Try It" pp. 344 and 345; 13.1-13.8, pp. 347-348; "You Try It" pp. 349; 13.10-13.18, pp. 350-351.

Apr. 27, Apr. 29 "You Try It" pp. 356-357; 13.19, 13.23-13.27, 359; 13.32-13.39, p. 360.

May 4 (Monday) Final Exam (3:30-5:30 am)

Rules of Engagement

Attendance is not optional. Every day you miss class when there is a quiz, you lose 1 quiz point.
Write legibly. If the instructor can't read your handwriting, then you will receive a zero on the quiz.
Reading the assigned chapters and articles is not optional. You will be quizzed on the assigned readings.
Bring your book and assigned handouts to class every day.
Turn off all cell phones while in class.
Tardiness is not acceptable. It is inconsiderate and rude. That you could not find a parking place is not an excuse. If it is difficult to find a parking place, make sure you get an earlier start. If you come into class after the quiz question has been asked, the quiz question will not be repeated for you and you will automatically lose 1 quiz point.
Leaving class early is not acceptable without a prior excuse. Getting up and walking out is rude, inconsiderate, and a distraction to everyone in class. If you think you will need to be leaving class early, please let me know before class begins.
Do not talk, gossip, or pass notes during class. This is inconsiderate and rude behavior. It not only distracts the instructor, it is also adversely affects those students who really want to learn. If you persist in this behavior, you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave the class, you will automatically lose 1 quiz point for that day.
Do not read the newspaper or material pertaining to anything outside this class or listen to music during class time. That is rude and inconsiderate. If reading something—such as the newspaper or other outside material—or listening to music, is more important to you than what is being discussed in this class, then please do not take this class. If you persist in this behavior, you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave the class, you will automatically lose 1 quiz point for that day.
You may address me as Tim, Timothy, Mr. Cleveland, Dr. Cleveland, or Professor Cleveland. Do not address me with "hey, you"or "hey, mister" or in any less respectable terms. The same holds for the manner in which you address your fellow students in class.
Do not tell the instructor that you must pass the class or receive a certain grade in the class or you will not graduate or will lose your scholarship. This is manipulative behavior intended to make the instructor feel guilty and to defer undue responsibility onto the instructor. It is up to you to perform well enough to pass the course or retain your scholarship!
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of this course! The penalty for plagiarism can include suspension or expulsion from the University. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of the course. For details on plagiarism see NMSU Guidelines.