PHIL& 120 Symbolic Logic

5 credits

A comprehensive introduction to symbolic logic, including its historical development, the structure of logical forms, deductive tools and techniques, the role of logic in language, mathematics, and philosophy, and applications in decision-making, computer programming, and silicon circuitry.

This course meets the Quantitative Reasoning general education distribution requirement.

Prerequisites: MATH 98 or MATH 99 (or placement into any college-level, transferable MATH/MATH& course) and ENGL 93 (or placement into ENGL 99 or higher)

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Identify logical elements in natural and artificial languages
Determine tautological, contradictory, and contingent logical forms
Apply logical techniques to arrive at valid conclusions
Manipulate a symbolic language to arrive at deductive conclusions
Apply logical rules of inference, replacement, and quantification
Apply the mathematical skills of problem solving, pattern recognition, substitution, following structural rules, quantitative modeling, and formal logic to solve problems requiring reasoning, critical thinking, and rational problem solving

General Education Distribution Area Outcomes
Students who successfully complete courses in the Quantitative Reasoning distribution area will be able to:

Gather, organize, and interpret data using multiple approaches
Develop and use mathematical models to describe and evaluate physical situations
Communicate problem-solving strategies and mathematically justify solutions
Select and utilize appropriate technology to analyze mathematical problems

Total Hours: 50 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 50