Course Syllabus

PHIL 4 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
Section 6100 - Course Syllabus

Course Description

Development of modern symbolic logic through first-order predicate logic plus identity.  Emphasis on translation and proof techniques.  Provides a basis for understanding recent analytic trends. See Course Outline of Record.]

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1.   Reduce complex English sentences into the simpler component parts.
2.   Translate typical English connectives.
3.   Perform valid proofs for valid arguments using the statement logic.
4.   Perform valid proofs in the predicate logic using four additional quantifier rules as
      extension of the statement logic.

 

Primary Objectives: To introduce the elements of modern symbolic logic. To become familiar with standard notation and methods of symbolization. Develop techniques for translating ordinary English expressions into a commonly used symbolic notation. To become familiar with special terms and concepts used in logical theories and develop proof strategies using symbolic notation.


Secondary Goals: To achieve a general understanding of the development of logical systems from early Greek to contemporary attempts. To understand the motives behind the evolution from these early systems to more recent systems.


The course will be of interest to the following students:
Students interested in Philosophy, especially epistemology, philosophy of language, logic and analytic philosophy
Students interested in Mathematics, especially number theory, foundations, set theory and formal systems
Students interested in Computer Science, especially programming languages, operating systems and data base management
Students interested in Rhetoric, especially argument structure and uses of language. Students who are intending to continue in the legal profession.

Special Needs

Notify instructor within the first two weeks of classes if you need any special accommodations. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Class Meetings

Zoom class meetings Tuesdays at 10:30. Optional discussion session on Zoom Thursdays 10:30. If no one comes to the Thursday meeting by 10:45, I will close it.

Message instructor in Canvas ANY TIME with questions.

To set up a Zoom meeting any time Monday-Thursday between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, message instructor in Canvas.

Instructor Contact

Dwayne Mulder, Ph.D.

Contact through Canvas Inbox preferred. Email:  dmulder@santarosa.edu 

Office Hours: Canvas messages ANY time. Available for Zoom meeting with an appointment Mon, Wed, Thur between 9:00 and Noon. Tuesday Noon-2:00.

I respond to messages within 24 hours.

 

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Announcements

The instructor may use Canvas Announcements for urgent and important messages, so it’s strongly suggested that you set your Canvas notification preferences for Announcement to “Notify me right away.” See these Canvas help resources:


Textbook

Deductive Logic, by Warren Goldfarb. Hackett Publishers, 2003. 

 

You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course.

Important Dates

See https://portal.santarosa.edu/SRWeb/SR_SectionDates.aspx?Section=6100&Semester=20213  

Day Class Begins: Tuesday 1/26/2021

Day Class Ends: Friday 5/21/2021

Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: 2/7/21

Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: 2/28/21

Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: 4/25/21

See https://portal.santarosa.edu/SRWeb/SR_SectionDates.aspx?Section=6100&Semester=20213 for other important dates.

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

 

You must file for the P/NP option by 2/28/2021. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum. Set your Canvas notifications for “Announcement” and “Conversation Message.”

The instructor will post announcements on the Announcements page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences. SET YOUR NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES TO INCLUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Attendance

Students who fail to attend the first class (face-to-face courses) or do not log-in to an online class after the second class will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at midnight PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.

Assignments

There will be graded assignments to be completed in Canvas approximately every second week, totaling seven (7) graded assignments. The lowest single grade will eventually be dropped. So Six assignments will count in your final grade, worth 20 points (10%) each of your course grade (all six together worth 60% of your course grade).

There will be one short paper assignment on a prominent figure or movement in the history of Logic or computing  

Online Participation

There will be some online discussion boards as well as the weekly class meetings. Participation is worth 20 points, 10% of your grade.

Exams

There will be a final exam worth 36 points, 18% of the course grade. If you take and pass the final, your course grade will not drop from what you had before the final!
The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade as soon as possible once work is turned in and post grades and comments on the online Canvas grade book.

 

Grades will be assigned as follows:

6 Graded Assignments count: 120 points total, 60% of course grade

Short research paper: 20 points, 10%

Online participation: 20 points, 10% of grade

Final Exam: 40 points, 20% of grade

200 points total

A

90%

180 points or more

B

79%

158 - 179 points

C

67%

134 - 157 points

D

55%

110 - 133 points

 

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 67% of the total class points and complete the

midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

 

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Special Needs

Notify instructor within the first two weeks of classes if you need any special accommodations. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Schedule

Class Schedule consists in the WEEKLY MODULES . If any changes are made to the class schedule during the semester, I will update in Modules

.