Course Policies
To review the course policies and logistics, go here.
The following is a rough outline of the first month of class. Both it and its successors are subject to revision according to the flow of the class, as well as our interests. Don’t be shy about stating topics you’d like to explore.
LPL = Language, Proof, and Logic
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due 6AM Eastern US Time on the date specified. (For most of you, this means that you should submit the assignment the evening before.)
| Date | Preparatory Reading (I suggest that you complete this before the due date) | Assignment |
| Week 1 | Preliminaries | |
| 9/8 |
Welcome to Logic: Syllabus & Course Logistics What is Logic? LPL: Introduction (pp. 1-11) Software Manual: Ch.1-2: Using Submit. |
Install Course Software. Do “You Try It” on pp. 8-11.[1] |
| I. Propositional Logic | ||
| Weeks 1-2 | Atomic Sentences | |
|
9/11 (due 11:59PM) |
Atomic Sentences: LPL, 1.1 – 1.4 (pp. 19-25, 28-29) Software Manual: Ch. 3: Using Tarski’s World |
Do “Hidden Assignment(s)” in Course Policy Document. Do 1.2 – 1.5, 1.9 (pp. 25-27, 30) |
| 9/14 | Validity and Soundness: LPL, 2.1 – 2.2 (pp. 41-46) | None! |
| 9/17 |
Introduction to Proofs: LPL, 2.2 – 2.5 (pp.46-66) Software Manual: Ch.4 (Using Fitch) |
Do 2.19, 2.20, 2.25, 2.26, 2.27 (pp. 62, 66) |
| Week 3 | Boolean Connectives: The Basics | |
| 9/21 | Boolean Operators: ¬, ∧, and ∨: LPL, 3.1 – 3.3 (pp.67-77) | Do 3.3, 3.6, 3.9 (pp. 70, 73, 77) |
| 9/24 | Translation & Equivalence: LPL, 3.4 – 3.7 (pp. 77-90) | Do 3.15, 3.16 3.18, 3.23 (pp. 81,83,88) |
| Week 4 | Boolean Connectives: Logic | |
| 9/28 |
Software Manual: Ch.5 (Using Boole) Introduction to Truth Tables (Tautologies, Contradictions, and Contingencies): LPL, 4.1 – 4.2 (pp. 93-109) |
Do 4.2, 4.7, 4.12 (p.104) |
| 10/1 | Truth Tables and Validity: LPL, 4.3 – 4.4 (pp. 106-118) | Do , 4.22, 4.24 (pp. 109, 113) |
| Weeks 5-6 | Proofs | |
| 10/5 | Methods of Proof: LPL, 5.1 – 5.4 (pp. 128-142) | None! |
| 10/8 | Proofs with Conjunction and Disjunction: LPL, 6.1 – 6.2 (pp. 143-155) | Do 6.2, 6.4, 6.6 (pp. 155-156) |
| 10/12 | Negation, Subproofs, and Strategies: LPL, 6.3 – 6.6 (pp. 156-176) | Do. 6.11, 6.14, 6.15, 6.19, 6.22, 6.29, 6.34 (pp. 165, 168, 173, 176) |
| 10/15 | Conditionals and Biconditionals: LPL, 7.1 – 7.3, 7.5 (pp. 178-192, 198) | Do 7.1-7.3, 7.18 (pp. 185, 189) |
| Week 7 | Conditional Proofs | |
| 10/20 | The Logic of Conditionals: LPL, 8.1 – 8.2, 8.4 (pp. 199-215, 223-225) | Do 8.20, 8.21, 8.34, 8.49 (pp. 213-214, 224) |
| 10/23 | Problem Set I Due 11:59PM | |
| I. Predicate Logic | ||
| Week 8 | Quantification I: The Basics | |
| 10/27 | Introducing Quantification: LPL, 9.1 – 9.4 (pp. 229-241) | Do 9.2, 9.5, 9.6 (pp. 236, 241) |
| 10/29 | Translating with Quantifiers: LPL, 9.5 – 9.6 (pp. 241-253) | Do 9.16, 9.17 (pp. 250-251) |
| Week 9 | Quantification II: Logic | |
| 11/3 | LPL, 10.1-10.2 (pp. 259-277; Note: I did not find this to be an especially good discussion of the concepts covered. Don’t worry about it too much; just make sure you get the basic gist of the key points.) | None! |
| 11/5 | Equivalence and DeMorgan’s with Quantifiers: LPL, 10.3 (pp. 277-282) | Do 10.24, 10.26, 10.28, 10.29 (p. 286) |
| Week 10 | Multiple Quantifiers | |
| 11/10 | Introduction to Multiple Quantifiers: LPL, 11.1 – 11.3 (pp. 298-309) | Do 11.9, 11.10, 11.17 (pp. 305, 309) |
| 11/12 | Paraphrasing with Multiple Quantifiers: LPL, 11.4 – 11.5, 11.8 (pp. 309-317, 324-327) | Do 11.20, 11.24 (pp. 312, 316) |
| Week 11 | Proofs | |
| 11/17 | Methods of Proof with Quantifiers: LPL, 12.1-12.4 (pp. 328-347) | None! |
| 11/19 | Formal Methods for Universal Introduction and Existential Elimination: LPL, 13.1 – 13.2 (pp. 351-361) | Do 13.8, 13.12, 13.13, 13.15, 13.16 (pp. 356, 359-360) |
| 11/20 to 11/29 | Thanksgiving Break | |
| Week 12 | Proofs (Continued) | |
| 12/1 | Strategy and Tactics: LPL, 13.3 (pp. 361-367) | Do 13.23, 13.27 (p. 368) |
| 12/3 | Review (Open Zoom Hours) | |
| Finals Week | ||
| 12/10 | N/A | Problem Set II |
[1] I’ve mentioned this “You Try It” exercise, but I recommend (but do not require) that you do all of the “You Try It” exercises in each week’s reading as a useful way of gaining understanding of the material (and getting participation points if you have questions).
