Logic: Formal & Philosophical

This course introduces students to the study of logic both in its philosophical and formal dimensions.

The formal dimension concerns the language and tools of classical elementary logic and addresses questions about the relations between artificial and natural languages. It cultivates the ability to translate complex natural language passages into formal claims and arguments with a view to assessing the validity of arguments and the consistency of sets of sentences.

The philosophical dimension concerns questions about the nature of truth, reference, modality, existence and identity. It cultivates an appreciation of the complexities inherent in the relation between language and the world. The course provides a strong foundation in the methodology of philosophical argumentation that is indispensable for the rest of the degree.