Course Outline

TEACHING STAFF

Name:                     Dr Stephen Watson

Room:                     1-E335

Email:                      s.watson2@uq.edu.au

Consultation:        Thursday 4 pm.

Note: please enter the subject heading ‘PHIL2100’ in all email correspondence.

Consultation Hours: If the above consultation hour is inconvenient for you, do not hesitate to contact me to arrange a meeting.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Non-Classical logics are adaptations of standard logic which allow us to deal with features of arguments that standard logics cannot handle, such as appeals to necessity and possibility. In this course, we'll look at the way that logics can be constructed and some of their applications. We may consider Modal logics, Paraconsistent, Intuitionistic, Fuzzy and Many-valued, Relevant, Dynamic, and other logics. The course concentrates on the formal nature of these systems but the underlying motivation is to show how they can be useful in clarifying philosophical arguments.

LECTURES

Lectures commence in Week 1 of semester. Lecture notes will be made available through the course homepage each week.

TUTORIALS

Attendance at tutorials is optional. 

The best way to learn logic is to do logic problems. Tutorials are designed to give you the opportunity to discuss and work through problems set for that purpose.

TEXT

Rod Girle (2000) Modal Logics and Philosophy, Teddington Acumen. 

Note that there are many excellent books on modal logic and surrounding philosophical issues in the libraries.

ASSESSMENT  

There will be two assignments and a final exam.

Assignment 1 worth 20% of the overall mark will be due 4pm 4/4/2008

Assignment 2 (worth 40%) will be due 4pm 23/5/2008

The final exam is worth 40%

Overall

To obtain the final grade, the marks will be weighted as described above and added to give a final mark out of 100.  People will receive a grade from 1 to 7 if their mark is above the following cut offs.

Extensions

Extensions on due dates for assignments are only permitted if you have a legitimate reason (e.g. illness, etc.). If you cannot submit an assignment by the due date, you should consult the course coordinator immediately concerning the possibility of an extension. You should not ask for an extension after the essay is due as it will not be given, except where you were physically incapable of making a phone call before the essay is due. Evidence of your illness etc. will be required. Conflicts with assessment for other courses, computer failures and work constraints are not sufficient grounds for being awarded an extension. Late papers may receive a grade reduction of one point per day overdue (e.g., if your paper is worth a 5 and is one day late the grade drops to 5-).

Cheating

Cheating, by copying others' work will be viewed harshly. And dealt with through formal University channels.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

Students are advised to read the material given in the lecture notes, and participate actively in tutorials. You may also wish to attend lectures. If you apply yourselves to the task on a week-by-week basis (avoiding cramming) then you are most likely to do well and to enjoy the course more.

ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS

There is an on-campus service available to all students who may require assistance with more general problems relating to their academic work, e.g. writing skills, returning to study after a long break, preparing assignments or seminars, stress, etc. This supplementary assistance is available through the Learning Assistance Unit — a part of Student Support Services — in the Relaxation Block, Student Union Complex. Telephone 336 51704.

Any student who for whatever reason (not just physical disabilities) may require alternative academic arrangements is encouraged to seek advice from a Disability Advisor at Student Support Services (Telephone 336 51704).

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