Introduction basic tools of factual reasoning, so that you can make better arguments, assess the arguments of others, and recognize typical mistakes in our thinking. The course combines a systematic introduction to basic formal logic and argument analysis with an overview of fundamentals of causal reasoning, the basis for all empirical acquisition of new information.
Code
PL1300
Name
HOW TO THINK: FORMAL LOGIC AND CAUSAL REASONING
Credits
4
Pre-requisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Can be taken twice for credit?
No
Discipline
PL (Philosophy)
Level
Undergraduate
Type
Regular
CAMS ID
4489
Last update with CAMS
Familiarity with elementary terms and methods of formal propositional logic (and predicate logic).
Acquaintance with a range of fallacies and cognitive biases, and some idea about the structure of biased, fallacious, or uninformative thinking.
Ability to apply elementary formal logic when analyzing arguments of others and building own arguments, including the ability to apply these techniques to real life examples, such as famous philosophical arguments or an argument in some news article.
Ability to distinguish and -- at a basic level -- critique different concepts of causation, as well as to apply these concepts to real life cases.
| Term | Code | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | PL1300 | HOW TO THINK: FORMAL LOGIC AND CAUSAL REASONING |