Introduction to Philosophy: Logic and Paradox

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Introduction to Philosophy: Logic and Paradox
10110-01 (40053)
Barnett
3:30-4:45 TTH
First Year Students Only

This class has two components: a logic component and a paradoxes component. In logic, we study deductively valid arguments. An argument is said to be deductively valid if the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion. But how do we tell whether an argument meets this condition? One component of this course will examine a formal system that will allow us to determine mechanically whether an argument is valid or not. We will examine how to translate sentences of natural language into logical notation and vice versa. The system we'll study makes significant contact with mathematics, computer science, linguistics, psychology, cognitive science and, of course, philosophy. The other
component of the course is about paradoxes. A paradox, as we'll understand the term, is an argument that (i) begins from premises that seem clearly true, (ii) proceeds by reasoning that seems deductively valid, and (iii) arrives at a conclusion that seems clearly false. While paradoxes are fun to think about, they have also historically been associated with revolutionary advances in thought. This class will examine several of the most interesting philosophical, mathematical, and moral paradoxes, virtually all of which are regarded by practicing philosophers as unsolved. We will try our best to solve them together. Ultimately, the hope is that our study of logic will inform our study of paradox, and vice versa, and that together the combination will serve as a lively and memorable introduction to philosophy.