Studies informal logic and language techniques as they relate to reasoning and argument. Provides practice in analyzing arguments and constructing sound arguments. Lecture 3 hours per week.
GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE
To introduce the student to the principles of informal logic. To develop skills which will enable the student to distinguish sound reasoning from unsound, and which will enable the student to construct a sound argument.
ENTRY LEVEL REQUIREMENTS
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to recognize unsound reasoning, and construct sound arguments. Specifically, the student will be able to:
B. Identify informal logical fallacies.
C. Understand the principles of argumentation.
D. Construct a simple, sound argument, avoiding fallacies and adequately supporting his conclusion.
Critical attention will be given to the following topics:
B. Conversational implication
C. Language of argument - terminology
D. Close analysis of arguments, sound and unsound
E. Fallacies of relevance and ambiguity
F. Kinds of disagreement
G. Analysis of specific kinds of arguments - legal, scientific, moral, philosophical, historical, etc.
H. Writing logically