Logic
Philosophy 201, Spring 2019
Instructor: Jeffrey A. Bell, Ph.D.
Time: 9:30-10:45am TTh, in Fayard 239
Office Hours: 11-12:30, 2-3:30 TTh, or by
appointment, in Fayard 355C.
Phone: 549-3918
Email: jbell@selu.edu
Course web page:
http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jbell/
Click Courses link and then click on link to this course.
Required Reading:
A Concise Introduction to Logic, 13th edition, by Patrick
J. Hurley and Lori Watson
Course Objectives
This course will provide an introduction to logical and
philosophical reasoning. We will cover a number of
basic issues and questions, such as the standards that
make an argument a good argument, what constitutes a
proof, and the relationship of logical reasoning to
philosophical questioning—or problematizing as I will
call it. We will begin with an examination of written
arguments and work on discerning the differences
between explanations, arguments, and unfounded
claims. We will then turn to differentiating between
valid and invalid forms of reasoning, explaining why
one is valid and the other not, and then we will begin to
use symbolic representations to present the arguments
that are written or spoken in everyday life. Finally, we
will end with an introduction to symbolic logic and the
role of proofs in logical and philosophical analysis.
Course Requirements
There will be three tests (20% each) and a final exam
(20%). There will also be regular homework
assignments (20%). I will check homework
assignments for completeness but will not grade them.
These are designed to provide you the practice
necessary to grasp the concepts and implications of
what we are working on in class. This in turn will
prepare you for the tests. This course also provides
online access to tutorials and further exercises that will
allow you to further practice with the tools being
provided in class. There are also sample test questions
and exercises that students can work through in
preparation for the tests and final.
Official communication: Standard Southeastern policy
is that you exclusively use your Southeastern e-mail
account to communicate information about your
curriculum, classes, assignments, and other important
information. You can access your e-mail account from
Webmail on Southeastern’s home page. I will not
respond to student e-mail from any other e-mail
addresses.
By the end of the drop/add period, all students must
sign a form acknowledging that they have received a
copy of the syllabus for this course, have read and
completely understood the syllabus, and are bound by
all of its terms.
Attendance Requirements
Class participation is an integral part of the course.
Failure to attend class regularly will harm your final
grade. Note: the basic concepts of the course will be
supplemented with lectures, and material from these
lectures will appear on the exams. Students who are
not listed on the official class roll are not properly
registered for the course, will not be allowed to attend
class, and will not receive a grade for the course under
any circumstances. Students bear the responsibility for
ensuring that they are listed on the official class roll.
Students with disabilities: If you are a qualified student
with a disability seeking accommodations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to
self-identify with the Office of Student Life, Room 203,
Student Union.
Student behavior/classroom decorum: Free discussion,
inquiry, and expression are encouraged in this class.
Classroom behavior that interferes with either the
instructor's ability to conduct the class or the ability of
students to benefit from the instruction is not
acceptable. Examples may include routinely entering
class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular
telephones, or other electronic devices; repeatedly
talking in class without being recognized; talking while
others are speaking; or arguing in a way that is
perceived as "crossing the civility line." In the event of
a situation where a student legitimately needs to carry a
beeper/cellular telephone to class, prior notice and
approval of the instructor is required, and students who
have such approval must use the device that vibrates
instead of ringing.
Students may not bring to class any children, family
members, friends, or others not registered for the course
except for sign-language interpreters, note-takers, or
other helpers allowed by the ADA and approved by the
Office of Student Affairs. No animals are allowed in Jan 24 Introduction
the classroom except for approved seeing-eye dogs.
Eating, smoking, and chewing tobacco are prohibited in Jan 29 Arguments, Premises, and Conclusions (1.1)
the classroom. Students may consume non-alcoholic Jan 31 Recognizing arguments (1.2)
beverages in class but must properly dispose of
bottles/cans/cups. Feb 5 Deduction and Induction (1.3)
Feb 7 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, Cogency
Grading: (1.4)

At the end of the semester, all students who have Feb 12 Argument Forms, Extended arguments (1.5-
completed all the requirements listed above will have a 1.6)
certain number of points out of a hundred (e.g., possible Feb 14 Review
of 20 on midterm, 30 on final, etc.). Students with a
grade between 90-100 will receive an A, 80-90 a B, 70- Feb 19 Test #1
80 a C, 60-70 a D, and below 60 an F. Incomplete (I) Feb 21 Informal Fallacies (3.1-3.3)
grades: University policy states that the grade of “I”
(incomplete) will be given only for work which is of Feb 26 “ (3.4-3.5)
passing quality at examination time but which, because Feb 28 Categorical Propositions (4.1-4.3)
of circumstances beyond the student’s control, is not
complete. This means, first of all, that students may Mar 5 No Class. Mardi Gras
receive an “I” grade only in the case of sudden dire Mar 7 “ (4.4, 4.6)
emergencies, such as severe and prolonged illness or
injury requiring lengthy hospitalization. Students may Mar 12 Categorical Syllogisms and Venn Diagrams
not receive an “I” grade for prolonged absences over (5.1-
which they do have some control, such as incarceration 5.2)
or court-ordered rehabilitation for chemical Mar 14 Rules and Fallacies (5.3)
dependency. Secondly, instructors may give a student
an “I” grade only if the student has completed all Mar 19 Review
required assignments with due dates prior to the date of Mar 21 Test #2
the emergency, with a passing grade. In those rare and
extraordinary cases in which an “I” grade is given, the Mar 26 Propositional Logic (6.1-6.2)
instructor and student must complete an “I” Contract Mar 28 Rules of Implication, truth tables (6.3-6.4)
form in the department office and obtain the department Last day to drop or resign from class:
head’s approval. No “I” grades can be given after the March 29
end of the final exam period. Students who receive “I”
grades must follow the procedure for removing the “I” Apr 2 Truth Tables and Fallacies (6.5-6.6)
described in the current Southeastern General Apr 4 Rules of Implication I (7.1)
Catalogue, or the grade will become an “F”.
Apr 9 Rules of Implication II (7.2)
Posting Grades: Apr 11 Rules of Replacement I (7.3)

During the semester grades will not be posted for this Apr 16 Rules of Replacement II (7.4)
class. All graded assignments will be returned in class Review
as soon as they are graded. The instructor is required to Apr 18 Test #3
keep final exams on file for a year following
completion of the course. Final course grades will be April 19 – April 26 No Class. Spring Break.
posted on the Peoplesoft system. Do not call the
department office or the instructor’s office to ask about Apr 30 Conditional Proof (7.4-7.5) (online)
grades—it is illegal to give such information over the May 2 “
phone.
May 7 Proofs (7.6-7.7)
Reading Assignments May 9 Review
May 15 (Wednesday) Final Exam (Test #4): 8-10am.