Friday 1 – 3:50 pm Office Hours:Tue 12:15-1pm @ K’s
Class Code 42985 Email: ericgerlach@gmail.com
Room: BCC 54 Blog: ericgerlach.blogspot.com
Logic: Syllabus and Schedule
Course Description
This course introduces students to the history and practice of Logic in ancient and modern cultures. We will study the human origins of Logic, Indian, Greek, and Chinese Logic texts, and modern European Logic including Wittgenstein’s truth table method.
Required Texts:
The text for the class is the Course Reader, available at Lazer Image, 61 Shattuck Square, Berkeley, (510) 644-3339. A copy of the reader will be on reserve at BCC Library.
Required Assignments:
- In-class & Homework Assignments 40%
- Midterm Exam 30%
- Final Exam 30%
Class Schedule
Readings (bold) are to be completed for discussion by the date listed
Aug 24 Introduction: What is Logic?
Aug 31 The Human Origins of Logic & Reason: Magic, Witchcraft & Religion
Sept 7 Indian Logic: Kanada’s Vaisheshika Sutra & Gotama’s Nyaya Sutra
Sept 14 Indian Logic: Jainism, Buddhism & Skepticism
Sept 21 Greek Logic: Aristotle’s Categories, On Interpretation, Prior & Posterior An.
Sept 28 Greek Logic: Heraclitus, Sextus Empiricus & Skepticism
Oct 5 Chinese Logic & Paradox: SCP & Review for Midterm
Oct 12 Midterm Exam
Oct 19 Islamic & Medieval European Logic: Avicenna & Aquinas
Oct 26 Medieval to Modern European Logic: Russell & Mill
Nov 2 Truth Tables & Early Wittgenstein’s Tractatus
Nov 9 Late Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations
Nov 16 Contradiction, Dialectic, Fallacies and Hegel’s Logic
Nov 23 NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov 30 Nonsense, Humor & Art: Lewis Carroll’s Alice Books
Dec 7 Review for Final Exam
Dec 14 Final Exam
Student Learning Outcomes:
Information Competency: understand logical concepts and systems
Critical Thinking: apply logical concepts to solve problems
Global Awareness & Valuing Diversity: understand and appreciate diverse cultures of logic
General Student Requirements:
Students are expected to come to class prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions. All readings and assignments should be completed by the beginning of class on the day they are listed here. This class is run as a lecture/discussion course. Students are responsible for all class material (even if they miss class). If you miss class, it is strongly advised that you ask a classmate for notes. It is your responsibility to ask if you missed something; it is not the instructor’s responsibility to remind you. Please read through the syllabus and plan ahead.
Late assignments will only be excused in cases of well-documented emergencies; in addition, students must have evidence that substantial progress has been made on the assignment before the emergency took place. Otherwise, late assignments will be downgraded a letter grade for each class day they are late. If a student has any extenuating circumstances which may affect full participation in the class, the student must speak to the instructor as far ahead of any due date as possible. Keep back-up copies of your work; never hand in the only copy of your work. All assignments must be completed and all requirements must be met in order to pass the class. You must turn in all assignments (even if they are late) in order to be eligible to receive a “C” grade or higher. There are no exceptions, under any circumstance.
Plagiarism—“[t]o use another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source” (MLA Handbook, 5th ed., §1.8)—will not be tolerated. Plagiarists, intentional or inadvertent, will receive a zero on the assignment in question; repeat offenders will get an F for the course and will be subject to college disciplinary action. Students are encouraged to review plagiarism policies in the current Vista College catalog.
A Note on Disabled Student Program and Services (DSP&S): DSP&S services are provided for any enrolled student who has a verified disability that creates an educational limitation that prevents the student from fully benefiting from classes without additional support services or instruction. Please let the instructor know if you require any support services or would like more information about DSP&S.
The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Any changes will be announced in class. Additional handouts of required readings may also be added.
