Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the skills required in order to analyze the logical structure of natural language statements; translate statements between natural and formal languages; assess validity by means of semantic and syntactic methods; provide counterexamples to invalid arguments; understand a number of key metalogical notions (coherence, expressive adequacy, soundness, completeness).
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites.
Course unit content
The course provides an introduction to classical propositional and predicate logic blending the rigor of a mathematical presentation with a discussion of the conceptual and philosophical motivation.
Full programme
1. The nature of arguments
2. Evaluating an argument
3. Semantics of propositional logic
4. Propositional calculus
5. Semantics of predicate logic
6. Predicate calculus
7. Fallacies
8. Inductive reasoning
9. Extensions of classical logic
Bibliography
Varzi, A., Nolt, J., & Rohatyn, D. (2022). Logica terza edizione. McGraw Hill.
https://www.mheducation.it/logica-3-ed-9788838654824-italy
Online resources:
https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/8838654824/student_view0/index.html
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
Throughout the course students will be required to do selected exercises from the textbook. There will be an end-of-term written examination aimed to assess the students’ proficiency relative to the aforementioned objectives.
Throughout the course, students are expected to do the assigned homework, some of which will be corrected and discussed in the classroom. Students' competence in relation to the learning objectives will be assessed by means of an end-of-term written exam, as well as an optional mid-semester partial exam.
Other information
Students who do not attend are (i) expected to be familiar with the textbook, and to solve all assigned exercises as indicated in the Elly platform, as well as (ii) encouraged to make use of the online resources mentioned in the 'Reference Books' section of this syllabus.
