Professor Judy Pelham
pelham@yorku.ca
Office Location: S440 Ross
Phone Number:  (416) 736-2100 Ext. 44721

Office Hours:  Office hours will be held in person, on Mondays or Wednesdays

This course is a continuation of Phil 2100.  Students who enjoyed and did well in Introduction to Logic are encouraged to take this course. The course teaches predicate logic and predicate logic with identity fully. We also consider logic in relation to natural language and discuss some topics that relate philosophy of language and linguistics.  We use many of the same methods as in Phil 2100, but do some philosophy at the same time.

The course begins by reviewing basic translations in predicate logic, and takes a look at what is sometimes known as ‘baby’ set theory. We then work on predicate logic through to predicate logic with identity. In the final third of the course we will discuss predicate logic in relation to natural language, including explaining some basic meta-theoretical results, and reflecting on Montague’s project of translating English syntax into logic. We will also look at how Russell and Frege wanted to interpret English expressions involving “the” differently.  What is the role of logic in philosophy?

Course kit available via the York University Bookstore.  It contains chapters from The Logic Book, 2^nd ed, published by McGraw-Hill.

Mid term test: 20%

Final Exam: 50%

Homework/assignments: 4 @ 7% each: 28%

Attendance: 2%

This course meets in person for three hours each week. The meeting time is divided up between lecture, question demonstration, homework review, and discussion. There are weekly homework assignments which, as in Phil 2100, are the foundation of the course.

1. To assess the validity of English arguments containing the logical words “all,” and “some” as deductively valid or invalid.
2.  To identify the basic elements of English sentences, subject and predicate, modifiers, and connectives, as part of understanding the logical form English sentences.
3. To gain a full understanding of predicate logic in terms of its model semantics and its relationship to English quantifier phrases.
4. To gain the ability to construct natural language derivations involving predicate and sentential logic.

Course policies

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