Reasoning

This course introduces the discipline of philosophy by examining a common human activity: reasoning. Participants in this course will develop their own reasoning skills and also learn to recognize how philosophical questions arise. The course begins by looking at the difference between better and worse arguments and by filling in missing steps in incomplete reasoning. Next, we look at elementary formal logic to understand how the form of reasoning contributes to its validity or invalidity. Philosophical questions arise, e.g.: If a valid form of argument always derives a true conclusion from true premises, what is truth? The bulk of the course looks at examples of reasoning in the fields of practical reasoning, science, law, politics, moral, and theology. We see that, in every field, reasoning cannot begin unless certain fundamental premises are accepted. More philosophical questions arise, e.g.: How do we choose among competing interests and desires? Can we ever know what the world is made of? Why is murder wrong? Can we prove any of the truths of Christianity from reason alone? Towards the middle and end of the course, students will prepare papers analyzing instances of sophisticated reasoning.

Prerequisites

The course is intended for juniors and seniors who are already familiar with political and scientific subject matter and who have already encountered arguments about topics in public policy such as global warming, health care, pacifism, the good life, and the nature of God. Prior knowledge of propositional formal logic is helpful. The focus of the course is on finding common elements in reasoning in various fields, learning skills necessary to analyze arguments, and discerning philosophical questions that arise from the subject matter.

Recommended background

Prior encounter with propositional logic is helpful, as is prior experience with debates over public policy matters such as politics, ethics and religion.

Teacher's notes:

There will be one required text, A Rulebook for Arguments, Fourth Edition, by Anthony Weston, supplemented by materials provided by the instructor or available online.

Textbooks and Materials

This item is required:

A Rulebook for Arguments [Edition or Version: 4], Authors: Weston, Anthony

ISBN: 9780872209541

Best sources: Scholars Online Bookstore

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