Reason & Argument - PHI00005C

«Back to module search

  • Department: Philosophy
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module introduces some of the key logical concepts and skills that are used throughout Philosophy. Students will learn how to symbolise an argument in a formal language, and then test the argument for validity.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

To introduce some of the key logical concepts and skills that are used throughout Philosophy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

  • Explain key logical concepts, such as validity, consistency, and necessity.

  • Symbolise simple arguments in Truth-Functional Logic (TFL).

  • Use truth-tables to test arguments in TFL for tautological validity.

  • Symbolise complex arguments in First-Order Logic (FOL).

  • Construct a counter-interpretation to demonstrate that an argument is not valid in FOL.

  • Construct a proof to demonstrate that an argument is valid in FOL.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 67
Open Exam (5 days) 33

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Summative Assessments

Open exam (33%), Week 6 Semester 2

Online exam (67%), end of Semester 2 assessment period

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 67
Open Exam (5 days) 33

Module feedback

All feedback will be returned in accordance with University and Departmental policy.

Indicative reading

forallx: York Edition, available at www.RTrueman.com/forallx/