Thomas J. Brommage, Jr., MA
PHI 2101-002
Introduction to Formal Logic
M/W 2:00-3:15 PM
 Office: FAO 206
Phone: 813-974-5885
Email: faith@freeshell.org
Website: http://brommage.freeshell.org

Course Objective: To familiarize the student with the basic concepts of the elementary study of propositional, predicate, syllogistic and class logic with some attention to basic problems of logical theory and history of formal logic.

Required Texts:

  1. Tomassi, Paul. Logic (New York: Routledge. 1999) $30

The main text for this class will be Tomassi's Logic. Some articles from other sources will be assigned, but the knowledge of these essays will not be tested. They are merely to entice discussion and to further enrich and aid you in the dialogue concerning the philosophical applications to formal logic. Problems will be assigned weekly from the Tomassi book.

Schedule: (all dates and content scheduled is tentative and subject to change by the Instructor)
5 Jan: Introduction to Course and Objectives
7 Jan: Read Chapter 1
12 Jan: Ex. 1.1, #1, 2, 4
14 Jan: Read pp. 32-39; Ex. 2.1 #1-3
19 Jan: No Class: Martin Luther King Day
21 Jan: Read pp. 42-53; Ex. 2.2, #1-5 and 2.3 #2
26 Jan: Read pp. 53-65; Ex. 2.4
28 Jan: Read pp. 65-66; Ex. 2.5 and 2.6
2 Feb: Read pp. 66-70; Ex. 2.7
4 Feb: Read pp. 74-82; Ex. 3.1 and 3.2
9 Feb: Read pp. 82-93; Ex. 3.3 and 3.4, #2
11 Feb: Ex. 3.5 and 3.6
16 Feb: Read pp. 94-101; Ex. 3.7 and 3.8
18 Feb: Read pp. 101-118; Ex. 3.9 and 3.10
23 Feb: Selected problems from pp. 108-110
25 Feb: Do "Exam #1" on pp. 118-120
1 Mar: Review for Midterm
3 Mar: Midterm (in class)
8-13 Mar: Spring Break: No Class!
15 Mar: Read pp. 122-143; Ex. 4.1 and 4.2
17 Mar: Read pp. 144-162
22 Mar: Ex. 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5
24 Mar: Read pp. 190-197
29 Apr: Read pp. 202-216; Ex. 5.3 and 5.4
31 Mar: Ex. 5.5
5 Apr: Read pp. 217-234; Ex. 5.6 and 5.7
7 Apr: Read pp. 266-281; Ex. 6.1 and 6.2
12 Apr: Read pp. 281-303; Ex. 6.3 and 6.5
14 Apr: Read pp. 303-310, 315-328; Selected Problems
19 Apr: Review for Final
21 Apr: Final Exam (in class)
29 Apr: Final Exam Makeup 1PM-3PM

Note on the Indeterminacy of Time: Rarely is there enough time in the semester to cover everything an ideal course in logic should cover. Some of the later assignments may look daunting, but chances are good that several sections may need to be cut based on lack of time.

Evaluation:

Five quizzes will be given through the semester. Some of these may be unannounced. The lowest score will not be counted into calculating your final grade. NO MAKE UPS will be offered on quizzes. In addition, there will be two exams given during the regularly scheduled class time (dates subject to change):

  • Midterm Exam--6 March
  • Final Exam--24 April

Anyone who cannot take either exam must make arrangements to make it up at least one week prior to the scheduled exam date. Failure to do so will result in a grade of "F" for said exam.

The following will be weighted accordingly to calculate your final grade:
Quizzes (4 x 5%)
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Attendance and Homework "controls"
Participation
   20%
20%
30%
20%
10%

Students who wish to enhance their grade may have the option of writing a 5-7 page paper on a topic in logical theory and/or the history of logic selected by the instructor. Please note that this option is only available to those who get prior consent from me. Students who wish to pursue intermediate level logic and/or philosophy majors interested in graduate school should strongly consider this option also.

Expectations, Suggestions and Mandates for an efficient class:

  1. Please arrive to class on time and expect to stay the entire duration of the class. If this is an impossibility, please make every attempt to notify me in advance of tardiness or absence.

  2. Especially true in logic more than most other areas in philosophy, diligence is important. The difficulty of the subject is indirectly proportional to the amount of work put into the course. Expect to have up to five hours a week of reading and practice in order to get an "A" for the course. Additionally, for these reasons, attendance is of vital importance.

  3. Please come to class prepared (i.e., any reading assigned read, any questions concerning exercises or lectures prepared, etc.)

  4. Please be respectful of each other in the class. There will be times when students disagree about a topic discussed in class. This is a didactic process, not a combative one.

  5. Due to the great excess of material and limited time in which we must over ground, please do not create a disruption for those people who are attempting to learn. Disruptions include blurting out answers, name calling, chiding each other, snoring, etc. Laughing at the Instructor's jokes is obviously exempted from this policy. In addition, personal audio devices (except those in use to record lectures) and loud crunching snack foods are prohibited from the classroom.

  6. Please feel free to make mistakes. We all will from time to time, even your omniscient instructor.

  7. Please feel free to make use of my office hours. Waiting until the last moment in the semester to catch up is not advisable. I am excellent at fixing small problems, but horrendous at fixing large ones. The only difference between small and large problems is time.

  8. Have fun! The material is only as dry as you make it out to be. Sharpening one's mind can be an exhilarating process.