PHIL1012: Semester 2, 2023

University home

Library

Current students

Staff intranet

Find an event

Give

Current students

Units PHIL1012 Semester 2 2023 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

PHIL1012: Introductory Logic

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

An introduction to modern logic: the investigation of the laws of truth. One essential aspect of good reasoning or argumentation is that it is valid: it cannot lead from true premises to a false conclusion. In this unit we learn how to identify and construct valid arguments, using techniques such as truth tables, models and truth trees. Apart from being a great aid to clear thinking about any subject, knowledge of logic is essential for understanding many areas not only of contemporary philosophy, but also linguistics, mathematics and computing.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Philosophy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Nick Smith, nicholas.smith@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Nick Smith, nicholas.smith@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Michael Nielsen, michael.nielsen@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Skills-based evaluation	Problem Sets Problem Sets	40%	Multiple weeks	8 x 225wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Final Final Assignment	30%	Please select a valid week from the list below Due date: 10 Nov 2023 at 23:59	1350wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Midterm Midterm Assignment	30%	Week 08 Due date: 19 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1350wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Questions for the Problem Sets and the Assignments will be posted on Canvas. Answers will be due via Canvas 48 hours later. You can resubmit your answers as many times as you wish up until the deadline. Precise details of release times for the questions for each Problem Set and Assignment, and due times for the answers, are on the Canvas site.

If you fail to submit enough of the Problem Sets and Assignments you will get a final grade of Absent Fail; precise details are on the Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The Problem Sets will constitute 40% of your final mark for the unit. Each problem set individually is worth 5%.
The Assignments (together) will constitute 60% of your final mark for the unit. Each assignment individually is worth 30%.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Information on applying for Special Consideration, in case illness or misadventure prevents you submitting work on time, is on the Current Students site. Work submitted late, without special consideration, will be penalised per day late in accordance with University policy. For each Problem Set and Assignment, there is also a further date (usually one or two weeks after the due date) after which no submissions can be accepted at all: precise details of these dates for each Problem Set and Assignment are on the Canvas site.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Weekly	see Canvas site for week-by-week plan	Lecture (2 hr)
Weekly	see Canvas site for week-by-week plan	Tutorial (1 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Nicholas J.J. Smith. Logic: The Laws of Truth. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2012.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate understanding of the formal languages of propositional and predicate logic, and ability to translate propositions of English into those formal languages
LO2. demonstrate understanding of the semantics of classical propositional logic in terms of truth tables
LO3. demonstrate understanding of the semantics of classical predicate logic in terms of models
LO4. demonstrate understanding of, and ability to construct, tree proofs for classical propositional and predicate logic
LO5. improvement in skills of logical analysis and reasoning

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The content and design of this unit are reviewed each time it is taught, in light of student evaluations, peer review and informal feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know at any time during the semester.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect