The primary objective of this course is to impart a functional ability to reason well; to improve your analytical skills and instincts. In addition to familiarizing you with elementary methods of argument composition and analysis, the course is further designed to aid you in understanding the essential principles involved in the theory and practice of reasoned decision making.

Texts:

A Concise Introduction to Logic (with InfoTrac and CD-ROM) (Concise Introduction to Logic)
by Patrick J. Hurley

Quantum Philosophy
by Roland Omnes

Website.:

Reading assignments, the syllabus, any handouts, and any other information about the class, is given at my website:

http://www.AbstractAtom.com

(or just abstractatom.com). At this page you will see a “Students” link at the top. Click that and it will take you to the students area, where you can then get to the logic link that takes you to the logic syllabus, and anything else you might need for the class.

Study Guides:

I will put study guides on my website for each section of the class (the three sections of the class are listed under *Class Schedule* below). The study guides can be found on the online syllabus for our class. These are just meant to be a guide to the subjects we will be covering, and these guides are just for your help if you want it. Before each test I will go through the study guide and tell the entire class specifically which topics from the study guide will be on the test, and which are the most important for the test.

Office Hours:

Office hours will be held right after class, usually right in the classroom. They are held in the classroom to encourage you to talk with me about class material.

Class Schedule: Reading and Tests:

Section 1: Division 2of reality (Part 1): the empirical and empirically based logic

Substance of this section:

Class notes and assigned readings and problems from the Hurley book, and I will give material from chapters 1 and 2 of the Hurley book.

Elementary Logic Study Guide Part 1 of Class   

Test 1

Section 2: Division 1 of reality (Part 2): the quantum and quantum based logic

Substance of this section:

Class notes and assigned readings and problems from the Hurley book, and I will give material from chapters 3-9 of the Hurley book. We will also cover much to do with the Quantum Philosophy book by Omnes.

Elementary Logic  Study Guide Part 2 of Class

             Final

Grading:

1. 500 points – Tests (over section 1 of class)
2. 400 points – Final  (over section 2 of class)
3. 100 points – Homework

Total: 1000 points

There are no make-up tests. If you miss a test, you must present documentation proving you were absent for reasons beyond your control. 

Homeworks:

Homework will be assigned when needed, usually at the end of each class period. Homeworks will be turned back to you before the test. Grading of homeworks will be by a credit/no-credit policy. At the end of the class, the number of homeworks will add up to 100 points, each taking an equal percentage of the 100-point total. If you miss class, you can get the assignment from the previous class from me and turn it in one week the next class (in other words., turn it in one week late).

Attendance:

Please do not arrive late for class. You are expected to attend all class sessions. Getting a good grade depends on having a good attendance record. An absence will be excused when it is due to an illness that is documented by a doctor’s excuse, or because of a death (documented) in the immediate family. If you try to show me a document that is in any way questionable, I will ignore it. (Questionable documents often include those which do not have your name on them, even though they are doctor's notes.)

If you receive an unexcused absence, the following deduction of points will occur: 25 points for each class for the first absence, 50 points for each thereafter.

Special Note to Nursing Students:

For your future plans in the nursing program, you are required to have a "C" or better in the class in order to get into and continue on with the nursing program.. I will remind you of this during the semester from time-to-time.