Formal Logic

Have you ever disagreed with an argument but had trouble putting your finger on why? Are you ever curious about the way great thinkers of the past argued? Or, would you simply like to have the skills to evaluate an argument and see how someone reached their conclusion? If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions then this course is for you. Formal Logic is an introductory course in the science of reasoning and building arguments well. Using the time-tested Traditional Logic I and II texts by Memoria Press, students will learn the basic history of logic, the components of a well-thought out argument, how to evaluate human language for clarity and consistency, and how to evaluate the internal structure of a syllogism. This sets the stage to begin constructing their own arguments with confidence, clarity, and consistency. The second half of the course will guide your student through the five most common syllogism forms, rare syllogism forms and how to reduce them to simpler forms, how to translate ordinary language to logical form for greater precision, tricky one-premise arguments, hypothetical syllogisms, classical argument forms, and the crown jewel of traditional logic, The Dilemma.

Course Objectives:

1. Students in formal logic will gain an appreciation for logical reasoning, and a broad, general history of logic and its importance in listening, speaking, and reading.
2. They'll also learn the four statements of logic, how we formulate and understand concepts, how we form and express judgments, the basis for all logical reasoning, and how to transform those statements to their logical equivalents.
3. The what? how? and why? of composing syllogisms will be thoroughly covered, along with a master of the all-important seven rules for determining the validity of an argument.
4. Students will master the five most common syllogism forms, how to reduce rare syllogism forms to simpler forms, how to translate ordinary language to logical form for greater precision, tricky one-premise arguments, hypothetical syllogisms, classical argument forms, and the crown jewel of traditional logic, The Dilemma.

Texts:

• Traditional Logic I
• Traditional Logic II