PY124 Logical Reasoning and Critical Thinking

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Module Level

8

Assessment

Essay and in-class test: 40%, End of semester exam: 60%

Module Aims

The main aim of this module is to introduce students to classical Aristotelian logic.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the ways in which we are tempted to reason incorrectly.
  • Identify fallacious arguments in everyday situations, e.g., work situations and media.
  • Analyse the main components of an argument (premises and conclusion).
  • Discriminate between valid and invalid forms of reasoning.
  • Translate everyday language into standard syllogistic form and test the validity of the argument, applying the rules of the syllogism.
  • Translate everyday arguments into standard modern logical notation of the propositional calculus, and test the validity of such arguments, using the truth-table method.