Philosophy 12A

This course is an introduction to symbolic logic. We will explore the structure of increasingly complex formal languages that allow us to define the concept of a valid deductive argument: i.e. an argument in which, if the premises are all true, the conclusion must be true as well. We will also see how these formal languages can be used to express the logical structure of ordinary English arguments. In its focus on the structure of formal languages and systems of proof for arguments in those languages, the class is in many ways like a math class. It should, however, give you a greater appreciation for the structure of arguments in ordinary English.