1. Week 1 Symbolic LogicS

2. Review from first classS ArgumentS An argument is a series of sentences.S SentenceS A sentence is something that can be true or false.S PremisesS Intended to support another sentence (reasons) the first sentences in the series.S ConclusionS The sentence supported by the others in the series. 3. A way of representing arguments: standard formS Premises first and then the conclusion It is going to rain today. Whenever it rains the streets get slippery.he streets will get slippery. means therefore and indicates the conclusion of the argument. 4. Two ways in which an argument can go wrongS One or more of the premises might be false.S The premises might fail to support the conclusion.S If either (or both) of these happen then the argument willbe weak (the argument will not be a good one).S Good arguments are strong arguments.S Strong deductive argument = true premises + deductivelyvalid. 5. Thinking about deductivevalidity1. Can an deductively valid argument have true premises and a true conclusion?2. Can a deductively valid argument have true premises and a false conclusion?3. Can a deductively valid argument have a false premise and a true conclusion?4. Can a deductively valid argument have all false premises and a true conclusion? 6. 5. Can a deductively valid argument have false premises and a false conclusion?6. Can a strong argument have false premises and a false conclusion?7. Can a strong argument have false premises and true conclusion?8. Can a strong argument have true premises and a false conclusion?9. If an argument has true premises and a true conclusion can it be weak? 7. Logical possibilityS ModalitiesS NecessityS PossibilityS ActualityS ProbabilityS Impossibility 8. Other logical notions from Chapter 1S Truth-values S True or false are said to be the truth-values of a sentence.S Tautology (logical truth) S A sentence that is true as a matter of logic. It is not possible forit to be false. It is true regardless of what the world is actuallylike.S Contradiction (logical falsehood) S A sentence that is false as a matter of logic. It is not possiblefor it to be true. It is false regardless of what the world isactually like. 9. S Contingent sentenceS A sentence that is neither a tautology nor a contradiction. Itstruth is dependent on something other than logic.S Logical equivalenceS Two sentences that necessarily have the same truth-value arelogically equivalent.S ConsistencyS A set of sentences is consistent if it is logically possible forthem all to be true at the same time. If it is not possible forthem all to be true at the same time they are inconsistent. 10. Formal languages vs. Natural LanguagesS The idea that sentences (and consequently arguments)have a form.All men are mortal.Socrates is a man.Socrates is mortal. 11. All philosophy professors are brilliant.Dr. Crasnow is a philosophy professor.Dr. Crasnow is brilliant.S Probably not strong but it is deductively valid. It has the same form as the previous argument. 12. The form All P are B S is P S is BS The form is valid and so all arguments that have thatform are valid. 13. Aristotelian Logic: SyllogismsS The valid forms can be identified and their characteristicscan be defined.S In Aristotelian logic the smallest units are the subjectsand predicates objects and their properties.S Aristotelian Logic is limited (so are all systems of logic,but Aristotelian logic has limitations that are problem forus) 14. SL: Sentential LogicS In SL the smallest units are the sentencesS Simple sentences are represented with letters.S The simple sentences can be made into complex sentences through connecting them with logical connectives like and, or, notS We will study one other formal language QL (Quantified Logic) S Basic units are objects, properties of objects, and relationsbetween objects.