Notes on Introduction to Logic -- Phil A101

William Jamison - Instructor

Notes for  Introduction to Logic by Copi/Cohen/ McMahon

 

Lecture 3:

 Analyzing Arguments Chapter 2

In this chapter (and in virtually the whole book) we are introducing different tools to use in solving problems. Each tool introduced has its good points and bad. But all of them work together to study characteristics of logic and reasoning.

http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_copi_intrologic_13/92/23636/6051061.cw/index.html and go to Chapter 2

History: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvz3k4TkzaY Peter Abelard - Stealing Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9umNmVsWxBI&feature=related - the movie

Moving on with the question of meaning - how does one paraphrase? Why would one paraphrase? As a tool this helps with the clarity of statements and the order of premises and conclusions in ordinary language.

Deductive and Inductive Arguments

Diagraming arguments as another tool.

http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/diagram.html

http://f08.middlebury.edu/PHIL0180A/Diagramming%20Arguments.ppt

 Solving puzzles is still another type of tool.

History: William of Ocham: See "The Name of the Rose"

Quiz question 1 concerned important historical dates and the need to know them. Why not just count on Google? Why should we bother memorizing data? If we do not have a "data base" of information we will not be able to read or analize arguments with understanding - since we need the data to do so.

Quiz question 2 concerned the usage with regard to the words "emotional" and "rational". Notice how the dynamic change in meanings for these two words inable us to both remember earlier meanings as well as current (politically correct) meanings or those resulting from the work of modern psychology. This shows the usefulness of Wittgenstein's theory of language games.

HomeLecture 3.

 

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