Description:
The ultimate goal of the course is to train students in deductive reasoning, which is a skill useful not only for academic disciplines but also for our ordinary life. We aim to accomplish this goal by learning the most popular logical system of first-order language – a natural deductive system. This formal system introduces its own vocabulary, syntax, semantics, and inference rules. Throughout the semester, we learn formal proofs along with translations from English arguments into our formal language. By practicing the system this way, we also explore the basic notions of logic – validity, logical consequence, consistency, etc. Hence, some of our intuitive notions involved in deductive reasoning will be sharpened at a formal level. The course is relevant to anyone who is interested in formal methods for our reasoning regardless of academic discipline.
Pace of Quantitative Training:
The key feature of the course material is its cumulativeness. Regular homeworks are designed to make sure that students are not behind in the material. Hence, as long as one can keep up with the regular assignments, examinations should not come as a surprise.
Expected Quantitative Preparation:
No previous training in formal logic is assumed.