Course syllabus

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PHIL 315: Applied Topics in Logic

SEMESTER 2, 2018

15 points

 

Teacher: Jeremy Seligman (Office hours:  Thu. 11-12, room 206-445, Contact)

 

Course delivery format: 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial. This is the primary mode of delivery. Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials. Assessable material will be covered in both. (Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

Course Description:              

This course is an introduction to applications of logic in philosophy.  The goal is to gain experience of the process of applying logical methods to the analysis of problems that are difficult to think about, rather than the acquisition of a body of theory. We will study three or four topics, time permitting, in each case looking at some philosophically motivated problem and a range of logical techniques that have been used to study it. On the way, you will also pick up some logical theory, especially related to modal logic: Kripke semantics, truth trees for modal logic, axiomatisation, the relationship to (second-order) predicate logic, and certain model-theoretic concepts such as bisimulation. 

 

Outline of Topics

Topic 1: Time

MacTaggart's argument for the non-existence of time, Prior's tense logic.

The structure of time (discrete, dense, linear, circular, branching, etc.)

Instants and intervals, hybrid logic.

The grandfather paradox.

 

Topic 2:  Knowledge

Basic epistemic logic, the multi-agent setting and common knowledge.

Public announcement logic, and logic in game theory.

Logics of (conditional) belief and preference. 

Private communication, action models. 

 

Topic 3:  Necessity

Modal predicate logic and interpretations of the Barcan formula. 

Names and descriptions in model contexts (rigid designators, de re/de dicto)

Identity across worlds

Higher-order intensional logic

 

Topic 4:  Society

Social epistemic logic:  seeing and knowing.

Reasoning about change: diffusion, influence. 

Varieties of group knowledge.

Towards a logic of tweeting.

 

Assessment:

50% coursework:  assignments will be given out for each topic
50% final exam

 

Recommended Text:

van Benthem, J. Modal Logic for Open Minds (2010). CSLI Press. ISBN 9781575865980.  This book covers most of the technical material in this course, plus a lot more.  It is highly recommended, although you can complete all compulsory assessment items without it. You can order a physical copy through ubiq.

 

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.

Course summary:

Date Details Due