Modern Logic - PHL 2440
Section 1 - Fall 2006
TTh 11:10 - 12:35, Kaplan 4
Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course will examine three areas of modern logic - propositional/predicate logic, inductive logic, and fuzzy logic. Our investigation of propositional and prediate logic will focus on completing deductions in these types of logic. When we turn to inductive logic we will be examining the structure of inductive arguments and the different problems that are associated with these types of arguments. Finally, our examination of fuzzy logic will focus on whether there is a need for this type of logic and how it envisioned to function.

The objectives for this course are

• You will be able to translate English sentences to logical notation.
• You will be able to complete deductive proofs in propositional and predicate logic.
• You will be able to identify and articulate the basic ideas and limitations of inductive logic.
• You will be able to state the basic ideas at the core of fuzzy logic.

TEXT
The text for this class is An Introduction to Logic: Evaluating Arguments. For further information on gaining the online access for this text or purchasing it directly from the publisher, click the word TEXT above.

ASSIGNMENTS
The first assignment is a midterm, in-class examination over deductive and predicate logic. This will count for 25% of your final grade.

The second assignment will be take home essay examination on inductive logic. This will count for 20% of your final grade.

The third assignment will be an in-class examination. This will be devoted to fuzzy logic and will count for 15% of your grade

The final assignment will be a cumulative final examination. This will count for 30% of your final grade.

Homework/practice problems will be worth the remaining 10% of your final grade.

Final grades will be determined by the scale below.

A 100 - 92	B- 79 - 78	D+ 66 - 64
A- 91 - 90	C+ 77 - 74	D 63 - 58
B+ 89 - 86	C 73 - 70	F 57 - 0
B 85 - 80	C- 69 - 67

POLICIES

1. Complete work on time: your are expected to be an active participant in class and this requires having your work done before class starts. If you come to class unprepared, I may ask ask you to leave.
2. Late work is penalized: any assignment late by one class period is marked down by 5%; 10% if it is later than that. If you know you must miss a class for a scheduled event (religious holiday, athletics, etc.), please let me know in advance so we can make arrangements for making up the work. It is also your responsibility to be sure that I get the work you submit. If you turn something in other then during class, you must check to be sure that I did get it.
3. End of the semester and late work: Aany work submitted on the last day of class will be subject to 20% penalty. Furthermore, any work submitted at any time after the last student has completed the final during the regularly scheduled session of the last section of this class will not be counted.
4. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. READ, KNOW AND LIVE THIS. Plagiarism is any use of information, idea, or words of another person or source that is not document. I make every effort to return work within one week of the due date (failure of my doing so results in additional credit to you equivalent to the late penalties noted above), however, in cases where I suspect plagiarism I reserve the right to change your grade after this I have returned your work if I find evidence of plagiarism. You may wish to work with other people, but the work you turn in must be your own work. Instances of plagiarism can range from failure to document sources (an offense that will result in a 10% deduction of the possible points of the assignment from you grade) to verbatium copying selections from another source and (an offense that will result in receiving a 0 on the assignment and will result in the lowering of your final grade by at least one full letter grade). In cases where two classmates copy work together, I will grade the best paper and split the grade between the two offenders unless one admits to the plagiarism. If you plagiarize in any form a second time in this class, you fail.
5. Tolerance: You must show consideration and tolerance to others. If you are not being considerate or tolerant, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
6. Cell phones: I f you have one and bring it to class make sure either that you turn it off or set the ringer to vibrate. If your cell phone goes off during class, you will no be allowed to bring it to class again and I reserve the right to make a one hour phone call on your phone to the location of my choice.

COURSE SCHEDULE
This is the schedule as I initially perceive it. I may make changes in the schedule to reflect the rate of progress we make, but I will announce any changes to the schedule in class and update the schedule on the web site.