This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Logic isn’t just for philosophers. Join Dr. Nicholson in this course and discover why logic is important in STEM fields as well as in the humanities. Learn how to weigh evidence, formulate causal hypotheses, and calculate basic probabilities. We will also explore inductive fallacies, and learn how to factor costs and benefits in decision making.
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Description
We will study the basic contours of inductive reasoning, which includes inference to the best explanation, the scientific method, and some very rudimentary probability theory. Our goal is to learn how to distinguish strong and weak inductive arguments, how to weigh evidence, evaluate hypotheses, and determine causation. This class will have a very broad scope of application and will be of service to those in STEM-related fields as well as those in the humanities.
Materials and Homework
Course materials: Our course text is Copi and Cohen’s famous “Introduction to Logic”, 14th edition. ISBN-10: 0205820379, ISBN-13 978-0205820375 (https://amzn.to/3lh9nL8). It is permissible to use other versions of this textbook, but please be aware that there may be minor differences in pagination and material. For this reason, assignments are indicated by chapter and section numbers rather than page numbers.
Homework: There will be three quizzes, a mid-term examination, and a cumulative final exam. These will make up 45%, 25%, and 25% of your grade respectively. The remaining 5% of your grade will be assigned on the basis of attendance and participation.
