PHIL 221 Outline

COURSE NUMBER:

PHIL 221

COURSE TITLE:

Introduction to Logic

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Henry Schuurman

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is a study of the logical principles of critical thinking and the typical forms of valid and invalid reasoning.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

The Little Logic Book, Lee Hardy, Del Ratzsch, Rebecca K. De Young, Gregory Mellema
A Rulebook for Arguments (4th edition), Anthony Weston
The God Dialogues: A Philosophical Journey, Torin Alter and Robert J. Howell

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:

Exercises from The Little Logic Book	25%
Debate papers	40%
Argument analysis paper	25%
Class participation	10%
	100%

COURSE OUTLINE:

This course will introduce you to the study of logic, the discipline which evaluates arguments. The main objectives of the course are to deepen your understanding of the concept of an argument and to help you develop some of the skills needed to use arguments effectively. To those ends, the course will teach various formal and informal techniques for recognizing, reconstructing, and evaluating arguments. The course will
apply those techniques to the analysis and evaluation of some arguments for and against the existence of God.

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.