Course Course Code Credit points FHEQ level Prerequisites Faculty Course leader 1a LOGIC: FORMAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL NCH414 30 Level 4 None PHILOSOPHY Dr Ioannis Votsis DESCRIPTION This course introduces students to the language and tools of classical elementary logic and addresses questions about the relations between formal and natural languages. It cultivates students’ ability to translate complex natural language passages into formal claims and arguments, to assess their validity, and to engage with the further topics such as: analyticity, necessity, existence, identity, truth, meaning, and reference. The course provides a strong foundation in philosophical knowledge and methodology for the later years of the degree. AIMS The course aims to: • Provide a strong foundation in elementary formal logic, as well as philosophical methodology (especially relevant to the Level 5 Metaphysics course). • Develop students’ engagement with central logical vocabulary and techniques of formalization and philosophical questions surrounding the representation of arguments and reasoning. • Promote an active understanding of the primary philosophical issues surrounding such logical notions as truth, analyticity, meaning, reference, necessity, identity, and existence. LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of the course, students should be able to: 1 Knowledge and understanding K1a Show knowledge and understanding of the techniques of formal logic and of key questions and debates in philosophical logic. (PPE: K1a), (PPH: K1a) K1a Show familiarity with the theories of philosophers such as Quine, Tarski, Russell, Kripke, and Lewis, amongst others. K3a Show familiarity with the vocabulary of formal logic. (PPE: K1a), (PPH: K1a) Subject-­‐specific skills S1a Interpret and engage clearly with key notions involved in such formalization (e.g. truth, meaning, reference, etc.). S2a &S3a Grasp the techniques of rudimentary formal logic, and of the formalization of natural language arguments. (PPE: S1), (PPH: S1a) Transferable skills T1a & T2a Work independently, effectively, and to deadlines. T3a Produce clear and persuasive presentations (especially written). (PPE: T2a), (PPH: T2a) LEARNING AND TEACHING Teaching and learning strategies for this course: • Lectures • Individual tutorials (based on an essay submitted beforehand by the student) • Seminars (for feedback on formal logic exercises) • Informal discussion groups (including online discussion) • Consolidation and revision workshops • Exams and examiners’ reports • Independent study and research The course is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars on formal logic, and essay-­‐
based individual tutorials in philosophical logic. There are also revision sessions and mocks. Course information and supplementary materials are available through the Moodle VLE ‘Logic’ page, to prompt independent reading and research and facilitate lively, structured, discussion online as well as in tutorials. Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to engage in independent study, informed and structured by the regular assignments from their tutors. ASSESSMENT Formative 4 x formal logic exercises; 4-­‐5 x 2,000-­‐word essays; 1 x unseen 3-­‐hour mock examination. Summative A 3-­‐hour unseen written examination. 2 Regular formative assignments prompt focussed independent study and are important to develop the student’s active understanding of what they have learnt in lectures and to improve their grasp of key logical techniques and concepts. Seminars are used to work through answers to formal logic exercises. Individual tutorials develop presentation and argumentation skills, and provide an opportunity to give detailed feedback on essays. The mock and summative examinations both prompt the student to consolidate and synthesize what they have learnt over the year and to focus on written clarity and precision. The summative exam tests the student’s grasp and understanding of the techniques of rudimentary formal logic, and their ability to engage clearly with associated notions such as truth, meaning, and reference. INDICATIVE TOPICS Formal Logic The syntax and semantics of propositional logic; the syntax of first-­‐order logic with identity; techniques of formalization. Truth Is truth a substantive property? Or is some form of deflationism correct? Analyticity Is there a robust distinction between analytic and synthetic truths? Meaning and Reference What is Russell’s theory of descriptions? Do ordinary proper names abbreviate descriptions? Necessity and Identity Are identities necessary or contingent? Is modality to be understood in terms of possible worlds? Existence Is existence a property or a quantifier? INDICATIVE READING Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in Subject Handbooks or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only. Introductory Texts Grayling, A.C. (1997), An Introduction to Philosophical Logic, 3rd edition. Oxford: Blackwell. Halbach, V. (2010), The Logic Manual. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sainsbury, R.M. (2001), Logical Forms, 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell. Primary Sources Kripke, S. (1980), Naming and Necessity. Oxford: Blackwell. 3 Lewis, D.K. (1986), On the Plurality of Worlds. Oxford: Blackwell. Quine, W.V.O. (1948), ‘On What There Is’, Review of Metaphysics. [Reprinted in his From a Logical Point of View (1953).] Quine, W.V.O. (1951), ‘Two Dogmas of Empiricism’, Philosophical Review, 60. Russell, B. (1919), ‘Descriptions’, Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy, Ch. 16 (any edition). Russell, B. (1905), ‘On Denoting’, Mind. Tarski, A. (1944), ‘The Semantic Conception of Truth and the Foundations of Semantics’, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE Assessment type: Unseen written examination Weighting: 100% (section 1: 33.3% / section 2: 66.6%) On-­‐line submission: No Duration: 3 hours Length: (section 1: answer 6-­‐8 formal logic questions; section 2: answer 2 out of 6 philosophical logic essay questions) Date of validation Finally approved by the Southampton Solent University Academic Standards and Development Committee 19 November 2014. Date last modified 4