PHIL 222g: Logic and Language Fall 2016 —Tue, Thu—9:30­10:50am Location: V
KC 150. Instructor: G
abriel Uzquiano Office: STO 221 Office Hours: Tue, Thu 11:00­12:00pm and by appt. E­mail Address: [email protected] Grader: J esse Wilson Office: MHP B5B Office Hours: Tue, Wed 12:30­1:30pm and by appt. E­mail Address: [email protected] Blackboard : h ttp://blackboard.usc.edu USC Web Logic : http://dornsife.usc.edu/USCLogicWeb Course Description Logic is a central tool in philosophy, both for the general purpose of characterizing of the distinction between valid and invalid arguments and for purposes of clarifying central concepts in the study of language. This course will cover both aspects of logic, but with rather more focus on specific applications for the study of language than is perhaps common in a first course in logic. The first eleven weeks of the semester will provide an overview of the basic syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logic. This block will familiarize students with a standard formal framework for the regimentation and analysis of valid argumentation. The next five weeks of the semester will focus on central issues in language, which should help students understand the importance of the formal framework they have covered in the first part of the semester. We will explain how the toolbox of formal logic helps clarify the nature of such central linguistic concepts as meaning, communication, and truth. We will touch on classic works by philosophers of language and logic like Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, Paul Grice, and Alfred Tarski. Many of their writings sought to clarify the meaning of linguistic expressions, to shed light on the connection between meaning and communication, and to explore the nature of truth more generally. The material covered in this block is connected to issues covered in other courses in philosophy of language, and linguistics. Course Materials 1. Textbook There is only one required textbook for this course: Gamut, L.F. (1990) Logic, Language and Meaning. 1. University of Chicago Press. 2. USC Web Logic USC Web Logic is an online tutorial system designed to reinforce and supplement the material introduced in lecture. Each unit consists of a Prezi, which illustrates basic logical concepts introduced in lecture, and a suite of exercises. Students are encouraged to make use of the online tutorial system to help them assimilate the material introduced in lecture. 3. Additional Readings Additional readings by philosophers like Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, Paul Grice, and Alfred Tarski may be made available through Blackboard. Course Requirements 1. Participation It is e ssential t hat you attend every lecture and come prepared to be involved in class discussion. In addition to this, you are encouraged to participate in the online forum for USC Web Logic. 2. Assignments There will be five fortnightly assignments for the first unit of the course. They will consist of a battery of problems designed to test your grasp and understanding of the basic logical concepts and methods being introduced in lecture. The assignments have very strict deadlines. Late assignments will not be accepted under any circumstances. The lowest score, however, will be omitted from the computation of the average for this component of the final grade. 3. One Paper (2000 words) The paper will cover some topic discussed in the second unit of the course. Guidelines for the paper will be distributed in advance along with suggested paper topics. The final version of the paper will be due by Thursday, December 1st. Late papers will be marked down ⅓ of a grade (e.g., from A to A­ or from A­ to B+) for each day the paper is late. 4. Final Exam There will be an o pen­book final exam on Thursday, December 8, 11am ­ 1pm. Grading Breakdown Course Requirements % of Grade Participation 10 Five Assignments 40 Paper 30 Final Exam 20 Course Schedule LL&M abbreviates: Logic, Language and Meaning. SEP abbreviates: The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy . PC abbreviates P
hilosophy Compass UNIT 1: LOGIC Date Topics Assignments Tuesday, August 23 Thursday, August 25 What is an Argument? Validity and Soundness USC Web Logic: Unit 1 LL&M , Chapter 1 USC Web Logic: Unit 1 LL&M , Chapter 1 Tuesday, August 30 Thursday, September 1 Logic and Meaning Formal Languages USC Web Logic: Unit 2 LL&M , Chapter 2 USC Web Logic: Unit 2 LL&M , Chapter 2 PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC Tuesday, September 6 Thursday, September 8 Propositional Logic: Syntax Truth Assignments USC Web Logic: Unit 3 LL&M , Chapter 3 Assignment #1 due USC Web Logic: Unit 3 Tuesday, September 13 Thursday, September 15 Validity in Propositional Logic Translation into the Language of Propositional Logic USC Web Logic: Unit 3 LL&M , Chapter 3 USC Web Logic: Unit 4 LL&M , Chapter 2 Tuesday, September 19 Thursday, September 21 Strategies for Complex Translation Tableaux in Propositional Logic USC Web Logic: Unit 4 LL&M , Chapter 2 Assignment #2 due USC Web Logic: Unit 5 Tuesday, September 27 Thursday, September 29 Strategies for Tableaux Limitations of Propositional Logic USC Web Logic: Unit 5 USC Web Logic: Unit 6 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.1 PREDICATE LOGIC Tuesday, October 4 Syntax for Predicate Logic: Names and Predicates USC Web Logic: Unit 6 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.2 Assignment #3 due Thursday, October 6 Syntax for Predicate Logic: Quantifiers USC Web Logic: Unit 6 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.3 Tuesday, October 11 Thursday, October 13 Translation into Predicate Logic Strategies for Complex Translation USC Web Logic: Unit 7 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.4 USC Web Logic: Unit 7 Tuesday, October 18 Thursday, October 20 Semantics for Predicate Logic Validity in Predicate Logic USC Web Logic: Unit 8 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.5 Assignment #4 due USC Web Logic: Unit 8 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.6.1­4 Tuesday, October 25 Thursday, October 27 Tableaux for Predicate Logic Strategies for Tableaux USC Web Logic: Unit 9 USC Web Logic: Unit 9 Tuesday, November 1 Thursday, November 3 Identity and Numerical Quantification Identity and Definite Descriptions USC Web Logic: Unit 10 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.7 Assignment #5 due USC Web Logic: Unit 10 LL&M , Chapter 3, 3.7 UNIT 2: L
ANGUAGE WHAT’S IN A NAME? Tuesday, November 8 Millianism Cumming, Sam (2013) “N
ames ” SEP, section 2.1. Thursday, November 10 Meaning: Sense and Reference Makin, G. (2010), “F
rege’s Distinction Between Sense and Reference .” Philosophy Compass, 5: 147–163. Paper guidelines made available DESCRIPTIONS Tuesday, November 15 Thursday, November 17 Descriptions Descriptivism Russell, B. (1919) I ntroduction to Mathematical Philosophy , Chapter 16. “Descriptions” LL&M , Chapter 5, 5.2 Kripke, S. (1971) Naming and Necessity , Excerpts from Lecture I. PRAGMATICS: MEANING AND USE Tuesday, November 22 Thursday, November 24 Conversational Implicature THANKSGIVING BREAK Blome­Tillmann, M. (2013) Conversational Implicatures (and How to Spot Them) , Philosophy Compass , 8.2: 170­185. Tuesday, November 29 Conversational Implicature and Conditionals Grice, P. (1989) “Logic and Conversation” LL&M , Chapter 6 TRUTH Thursday, December 1 Truth and Proof Tarski, A. (1944) “The Semantic Conception of Truth” Tarski, A. (1969) “Truth and Proof”, Scientific American 220, pp. 63­77 Paper due Thursday, December 8 FINAL EXAM 11am ­ 1pm Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems Academic Conduct Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in S Campus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standards . Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in S Campus and university policies on scientific misconduct . Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the O
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