PHIL 2500: Symbolic Logic - Yuri Balashov
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 1
PHIL 2500: Symbolic Logic
Lecture: MW 10:20 am – 11:10 am; online synchronous: Zoom link will be provided via eLC
Discussion Sections: Fri, online synchronous via Zoom; please check your schedule
Instructor: Yuri Balashov Teaching Assistant: Sam Bennett
Email: yuri@uga.edu Email: phil2500instructorbennett@gmail.com
Office hours via Zoom: Office hours via Zoom:
Wed: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (Zoom link) Mon: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (Zoom link)
Thu: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Zoom link) Thu: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm (Zoom link)
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The goal of this course is to teach the basics of formal symbolic logic and its connection to
argumentation and natural language. You will learn how to formalize arguments and evaluate
them for validity.
REQUIRED TEXT
• Bergmann, Moor and Nelson, The Logic Book, 6th ed. (2014) (978-0078038419)
We will cover chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10. Additional resources, including answers to about
50% of the exercises, are available at www.mhhe.com/bergmann6e
FORMAT
• The class will be taught fully online in a synchronous mode. As such, it requires access to a
computer and a stable internet connection.
• Lecture sessions on MW may be recorded; discussion sessions on Fri will not be recorded.
• Active participation, especially in live Zoom discussion sessions on Friday, is encouraged
and will count towards your final grade.
• Discussion section meetings led by your TA will focus on clarifying difficult issues in our
material and on problem-solving strategies.
• Scheduled exams will be administered online via email.
CLASS TECHNOLOGY
• This class will use eLearning Commons (eLC) – the online learning management system for
the University of Georgia. To log in to eLC using your UGA MyID and password please go
to https://uga.view.usg.edu/d2l/login or elc.uga.edu (you will be redirected). This should be
straightforward. A lot of help is available at https://help.elc.uga.edu/
• All our class meetings will be conducted online via Zoom – a popular videoconferencing
platform adopted at UGA. To access Zoom, to download a desktop/laptop client, and to
configure your account please go to https://uga.zoom.us/ and log in using your UGA
credentials (this is required for authentication). Zoom meeting IDs and passwords for our
regular class sessions will be provided separately via eLC or email. Please stay tuned for
announcements.
WORK IN THE COURSE
In content and style, this course resembles a math course. And just like in a math class, learning
logic is cumulative: if you miss an idea early, you should expect a snowball effect. For this
1PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 2 reason, the course is designed with daily work, regular tests, and self-tests. It is very important to approach the course in the right way. Reading and homework. In our lectures we will be moving at a brisk and ever-increasing pace. The text, on the other hand, is thorough and slow-moving. For this reason, it is essential for you to study the readings very carefully prior to the class for which they are assigned, trying to understand every single step. The most difficult points of the material will, of course, be addressed in our sessions and you should not hesitate to ask all the remaining questions in lectures and discussion sections. You should expect to spend at least two hours studying outside of class for each hour spent in class. You should also try to complete as many exercises from the text as you can. These exercises will not be handed in or graded, but you should be prepared to go over any of them and contribute to their solutions in your discussion sections. Occasionally we will complete some of the textbook exercises in lectures. The answers to about 50% of the exercises are available at www.mhhe.com/bergmann6e. It is safe to say that, as in a typical math class, you will not succeed in this course unless you master the material to the extent that will allow you to solve any arbitrarily chosen problem. Continuous practice is the only way to achieve this level. GRADING • Four exams will constitute 90% of the final grade (please see below). • Attendance and participation will constitute 10% of the final grade. NUMBER-TO-LETTER FINAL GRADE CONVERSION SCHEME N≥93 90≤N
PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 3
NOT the highest one. Each exam is worth 100 points. 90% of your final grade in the class will be
based on the sum total of the last retakes (including the final retakes) on each block.
For example, suppose you get 72 points on Exam 1A, retake it and get 76 an Exam 1B. Then you
make an 86 on Exam 2A and do not retake it. You miss Exam 3A and get 79 points on Exam 3B
(i.e. the retake of Exam 3A). You make 61 on Exam 4A. On the final, you take Exams 1C, 3C,
and 4B and make, respectively, 81, 75, and 77. Your LAST grades for the four blocks are,
therefore: 81, 86, 75, and 77. Your attendance and participation grade is 92/100. Your overall
grade for the course is (81 + 86 + 75 + 77) /4 * 0.9 + 92 * 0.1 = 80.98 = B–.
This approach gives you an opportunity to improve your standing throughout the course and
learn from mistakes. At the same time, you have to bear the risk associated with the retakes.
Since so many retake opportunities are built into our grading system, there will be no other
make-up exams for absences, regardless of whether you have a good excuse or not. In particular,
the Final Exam in this class will take place on Wednesday, May 5, 8:00 – 11:00 am. Please
plan accordingly.
EXAM FORMAT (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
• All exams will be administered online via email. We will send the exam as Word and PDF
attachments to your official UGA email address 5 min prior to the scheduled exam period
(please see below) and will expect it back as email attachment to
phil2500instructorbennett@gmail.com no later than 5 min after the end of the scheduled
exam period. We will not accept any exams submitted after that time regardless of the
reasons (e.g. computer crashes, Internet failures, or power outages). Please plan accordingly
and make backup plans if necessary (e.g., have a backup laptop computer with a fully
charged battery, have a mobile Internet connection as a backup, etc.).
• Exams 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A will be administered on Mon or Wed during our normal class
period (10:20 am – 11:10 am). There will be no Zoom sessions on the exam days.
• Exams 3B and 4A will be administered on Friday, Apr 9 and Friday, Apr 30 from
10:20 am – 11:10 am (i.e., during one of our discussion section periods). There will be no
discussion section meetings on these two dates. If you have a scheduling conflict on Friday,
10:20 am – 11:10 am (this is highly unlikely) you will need to make arrangements with your
other instructor that will allow you to take Exam 3B and/or 4A (assuming you want/decide to
take them). If you need any help negotiating such arrangements, please let us know well in
advance.
• Exams 1C, 2C, 3C and 4B will be administered during the final exam period on Wednesday,
May 5, 8:00 – 11:00 am. As explained above, you can take as many or as few of these as
you want. If you decide to take all four (i.e. 1C, 2C, 3C and 4B; this happens very rarely)
please let us know in advance, and we will give you extra 20 min.
• To reiterate: since so many retake opportunities are built into our grading system we
will be unable to offer any additional/make-up exams to anyone.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
You are bound by the following UGA Student Honor Code: “I will be academically honest in all
of my academic work and will not tolerate academic dishonesty of others.” A Culture of
Honesty, the University’s policy and procedures for handling cases of suspected dishonesty, can
be found at www.uga.edu/ovpi.
3PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 4
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
If you plan to request accommodations for a disability, please register with the Disability
Resource Center. DRC can be reached by visiting Clark Howell Hall, calling 706-542-8719
(voice) or 706-542-8778 (TTY), or by visiting http://drc.uga.edu.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCES
• If you or someone you know needs assistance, you are encouraged to contact Student
Care and Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs at 706-542-7774 or visit
https://sco.uga.edu. They will help you navigate any difficult circumstances you may be
facing by connecting you with the appropriate resources or services.
• UGA has several resources for a student seeking mental health services
(https://www.uhs.uga.edu/bewelluga/bewelluga) or crisis support
(https://www.uhs.uga.edu/info/emergencies).
• If you need help managing stress anxiety, relationships, etc., please visit BeWellUGA
(https://www.uhs.uga.edu/bewelluga/bewelluga) for a list of FREE workshops, classes,
mentoring, and health coaching led by licensed clinicians and health educators in the
University Health Center.
• Additional resources can be accessed through the UGA App.
4PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 5
SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT; UPDATED 01/11/2020):
• You should read and work through the TLB materials prior to the class meetings for
which they are assigned.
Jan 13, W: Introduction and course mechanics. §§1.1–1.3. Exercises 1.2E, 1.3E
Jan 15, F: Discussion sections
Jan 18, M: Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 20, W: §§1.1–1.3. Exercises 1.2E, 1.3E
Jan 22, F: Discussion sections
Jan 25, M: §§2.1–2.3.
Jan 27, W: §§2.1–2.3. Exercises 2.1E – 2.3E
Jan 29, F: Discussion sections
Feb 1, M: §§3.1–3.4. Exercises 3.1E, 3.4E
Feb 3, W: §§3.5–3.6. Exercises 3.5E, 3.6E. Review of Chs. 1–3
Feb 5, F: Discussion sections
Feb 8, M: Exam 1A via email. No Zoom meeting today.
Feb 10, W: §§5.1.1, 5.1.2. Exercises 5.1.1E, 5.1.2E
Feb 12, F: Discussion sections
Feb 15, M: Exam 1B via email. No Zoom meeting today.
Feb 17, W: Instructional Break (No classes)
Feb 19, F: Discussion sections
Feb 22, M: §§5.1.1 – 5.1.3. Exercises 5.1.1E – 5.1.3E
Feb 24, W: §5.2, 5.3. Exercises 5.3E
Feb 26, F: Discussion sections
Mar 1, M: §5.3, 5.4. Exercises 5.3E, 5.4E
Mar 3, W: §5.4. Exercises 5.4E
Mar 5, F: Discussion sections
Mar 8, M: Review of Ch. 5.
Mar 10, W: Exam 2A via email. No Zoom meeting today.
Mar 12, F: Instructional Break (No classes)
Mar 15, M: §§7.1–7.2. Exercises 7.1E, 7.2E
Mar 17, W: §§7.2–7.3. Exercises 7.2E, 7.3E
Mar 19, F: Discussion sections
Mar 22, M: Exam 2B via email. No Zoom meeting today.
Mar 24, W: §§7.3–7.4. Exercises 7.3E
Mar 26, F: Discussion sections
Mar 29, M: §7.4. Exercises: §7.4 (***at www.mhhe.com/bergmann6e***)
5PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 6
Mar 31, W: §7.4. Exercises: §7.4 (***at www.mhhe.com/bergmann6e***)
Apr 2, F: Discussion sections
Apr 5, M: Exam 3A via email. No Zoom meeting today.
Apr 7, W: §10.1. Exercises 10.1E
Apr 9, F: Exam 3B from 10:20 am – 11:10 am. No discussion section meetings today.
Apr 12, M: §10.1. Exercises 10.1E
Apr 14, W: §10.2. Exercises 10.2E
Apr 16, F: Discussion sections
Apr 19, M: §10.2. Exercises 10.2E
Apr 21, W: §10.3. Exercises 10.3E
Apr 23, F: Discussion sections
Apr 26, M: §10.3. Exercises 10.3E
Apr 28, W: Review of Ch. 10
Apr 30, F: Exam 4A from 10:20 am – 11:10 am. No discussion section meetings today.
May 3, M: Last day of class. TBA
Wednesday, May 5, 8:00 – 11:00 am: Final Exam
Please note: The date and time of the final exam are set by the Registrar’s Office. We
cannot offer the final exam or any other exams in this class to anyone on any other date or
at any other time. Please plan accordingly.
6PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 7
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
Face Coverings:
As a reminder, the University of Georgia—along with all University System of Georgia (USG)
institutions—requires all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear an appropriate face
covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always
be possible. Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must
leave the area. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a
face covering for documented health reasons. Students seeking an accommodation related to face
coverings should contact Disability Services at https://drc.uga.edu/.
DawgCheck:
Please perform a quick symptom check each weekday on DawgCheck—on the UGA app or
website—whether you feel sick or not. It will help health providers monitor the health situation
on campus: https://dawgcheck.uga.edu/
What do I do if I have symptoms?
Students showing symptoms should self-isolate and schedule an appointment with the University
Health Center by calling 706-542-1162 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Please DO NOT walk-
in. For emergencies and after-hours care, see https://www.uhs.uga.edu/info/emergencies.
What do I do if I test positive?
Any student with a positive COVID-19 test is required to report the test in DawgCheck and
should self-isolate immediately. Students should not attend classes in-person until the isolation
period is completed. Once you report the positive test through DawgCheck, UGA Student Care
and Outreach will follow up with you.
What do I do if I am notified that I have been exposed?
Revised Guidelines for COVID-19 Quarantine Period
Effective Jan. 4, 2021, students who learn they have been directly exposed to COVID-19 but are
not showing symptoms should self-quarantine for 10 days (consistent with updated Department
of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines).
Those quarantining for 10 days must have been symptom-free throughout the monitoring period.
Please correspond with your instructor via email, with a cc: to Student Care & Outreach
at sco@uga.edu, to coordinate continuing your coursework while self-quarantined.
We strongly encourage students to voluntarily take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the end
of the 10-day quarantine period (test to be administered between days 8 and 10). Students may
obtain these tests at Legion Field (https://clia.vetview.vet.uga.edu/) or at the University Health
Center by calling 706-542-1162 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Please DO NOT walk-in the
University Health Center without an appointment. For emergencies and after-hours care, see
https://www.uhs.uga.edu/info/emergencies
If the test is negative, the individual may return to campus, but MUST continue to closely
monitor for any new COVID-19 symptoms through 14 days. DawgCheck is the best method for
monitoring these symptoms. If new symptoms occur, the individual must not come to campus
and must seek further testing/evaluation.
7PHIL 2500, Spring 2021, Balashov/Bennett, Page 8
If the test is positive at the end of the 10-day period, the individual must begin a 10-day isolation
period from the date of the test.
How do I participate in surveillance testing if I have NO symptoms?
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the expanded surveillance testing that is being
offered from January 4 – 22: up to 1,500 free tests per day at Legion Field and pop-up
locations. Testing at Legion Field can be scheduled at https://clia.vetview.vet.uga.edu/. Walk-up
appointments can usually be accommodated at Legion Field, and pop-up saliva testing does not
require pre-registration. For planning purposes, precise sites and schedules for the pop-up clinics
are published on the UHC’s website and its social media as they are secured:
https://www.uhs.uga.edu/healthtopics/covid-surveillance-testing.
8You can also read
