Course Description
Principles and methods for distinguishing correct from incorrect deductive arguments in the context of modal logic, temporal logic, conditional logic, epistemic logic, and deontic logic.
Athena Title
Topics in Symbolic Logic
Pre or Corequisite
PHIL 2500 or PHIL 2500H or PHIL 2500E or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will learn techniques for evaluating arguments in modal logic, temporal logic, conditional logic, epistemic logic, and deontic logic. Upon learning these techniques, students will be able to evaluate arguments that cannot be evaluated effectively using only the techniques of basic propositional and predicate logic. On written exams and assignments throughout the course, students will demonstrate their proficiency as follows: (a) by interpreting natural language arguments in logical notation; (b) by applying decision procedures to symbolized arguments; (c) by constructing counterexamples to invalid arguments; and (d) by using logical systems to construct proofs of valid arguments.
Topical Outline
Each section of the course will introduce both techniques for finding proofs and techniques for finding counterexamples for the kind of logical system in question. The focus will be on applying these techniques to arguments, especially arguments in philosophy. A. Propositional modal logics 1. Modal operators and their interpretation 2. Natural deduction systems and techniques for proof construction 3. Possible worlds semantics and techniques for finding models B. Temporal logics 1. Temporal operators and systems 2. Models of the structure of linear time 3. Branching time models combining temporal and modal logics C. Conditional logic 1. Logical systems for the conditional 2. Stalnaker-Lewis possible worlds semantics 3. Branching time models combining conditional, temporal, and modal logics D. Quantified modal logic 1. The logic of identity 2. Existence and the quantifiers 3. Systems and models of quantified modal logic E. Epistemic and deontic interpretations of modal logic 1. Epistemic closure 2. The KK principle 3. Deontic logics and logics for conditional obligation 4. The Gentle Murder Paradox
Syllabus