Course Syllabus

Weekly Reading and Exercises

Course Description

This course explores application of first-order modal logic to philosophical problems of possibility, necessity and identity. We will emphasize both formal methods and philosophical inquiry. Assessment will include both formal proofs and frequent long-paragraph length answers exploring ideas. A (short) essay or (very small) research project will also be required.

PHIL 315 is a Stage III Course for Philosophy (BA major), and for Logic and Computation (BA major and minor, BSc major). It is a 15 pt course with a workload of up to 10 hours / week. The prerequisite is PHIL 216, 222, or 266.

I recommend against taking PHIL315 if you haven't taken PHIL216 or PHIL222. If this is your situation, come and talk to me.

Lecturer/Course Director:

Patrick Girard
Office: 206-447 (Arts 2, level 4)
Office hours: Wednesday, 15:00-16:00
Phone: 373-7599, ext 82752.

I have an open-door policy: if you come to my office and I'm available, I'll be happy to talk to you. If I'm too busy, I reserve the right to ask you to come at a different time; please don't be offended. The best time to come and talk to me is during my office hours. I don't like answering questions by email, especially not logic questions, so avoid sending me long emails. Instead, come and talk to me, or give me a call.

Class Rep

  • Angus Jones
  • Alexander Swain

Assessment

Assignments are due without exception by the agreed date and time. At the discretion of the lecturer, late assignments may be accepted with a substantial penalty.

15% Weekly Exercises (Best 8 of 11)  Exemplars by Students
15% Essay / research project
20% Mid-semester Test
50% Final Exam

Course Ressources

The course textbook is Fitting and Mendelsohn's First Order Modal Logic, available free in electronic form. More details can be found here. The material will be taught through interactive lectures and tutorials, and through student exploration of exercises and problems. There is a guide to your weekly reading and activities. You are expected to attend all the lectures and tutorials, and take your own notes.

Weekly Topics

  1. Introduction to Propositional Modal Semantics
  2. A Plethora of Modal Logics
  3. Propositional Modal Tableaux
  4. Completeness of Tableaux
  5. Quantified Modal Logic
  6. Midterm!
  7. Quantifying over Varying Domains
  8. Equality
  9. Existence
  10. Non-existence
  11. Essay Topic Discussions; Review.
  12. Quantified Logic Tableaux

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due