Logical Reasoning and Critical Thinking

Some arguments do genuinely prove their conclusion, and some do not. Logic is the study of the principles of valid argumentation, i.e., of what it is that makes an argument valid or invalid, sound or unsound. This module introduces students to logic and critical thinking, examining both classical and modern logic, covering such topics as: the nature and scope of logic; truth and validity; the classification of terms and propositions; translating everyday language into standard logical form; patterns of immediate inference; the syllogism; hypothetical and disjunctive arguments; the basic methods and procedures of modern symbolic logic; and some informal fallacies. Through looking at both classical and modern logic as well as informal fallacies focus will fall on the nature and different ways of engaging in critical thinking with regard to drawing correct inferences from premisses to conclusions.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
-Analyse the main components of an argument (e.g. premisses and conclusion) and become aware of the importance of drawing valid inferences from premisses to conclusions.
-Discriminate between valid and invalid, ?sound? and ?unsound? forms of logical reasoning as well as the general limits of logical discourse.
-Identity and recognise the way informal fallacies lead one?s method of argumentation astray, through deploying either irrelevant or ambiguous premisses or conclusions argumentations.
-Distinguish four main types of propositions (categorical, hypothetical, disjunctive, and conjunctive) and put into standard logical form sentences phrased in ordinary language.
-Recognize the status of the truth (or otherwise) of statements in immediate logical inferences among categorical propositions (in the traditional square of opposition, conversion, obversion and contraposition).
-Translate everyday arguments into standard, classical syllogistic form (where possible), and test the validity of such arguments, using the rules of the syllogism.
-Translate everyday arguments into standard modern logical notation of the propositional calculus, and test the validity of such arguments, using the truth-table method.
-Develop an overall appreciation of the importance of thinking critically and logically, cognisant of the main features of informal logical fallacies (of ambiguity and of relevance).

Teaching & Learning methods:
24 lecture hours (12 weeks x 2 lecture hours per week); 3 tutorial hours (x 15 tutorial groups); doing logical exercises; reading, reflection, discussion and writing.

Assessment:
Continuous Assessment: 40%
University scheduled written examination: 60%

Continuous Assessment detail(s): 5% = Attendance at Tutorials 15% = Logical exercises in tutorials 20% = Essay-Assignment (c.1,500 words)