Logic, Truth and Reason: The Ways of Paradox

Formal logic (the kind of thing studied in Introduction to Logic) attempts to make precise our ordinary conceptions of inference and argument. This course considers a number of challenges to the success of that attempt. Some have argued that formal logic cannot capture some aspects of ordinary argument: for example, many have found the logical conditional to be quite different from English 'if'. Moreover, some of those ordinary conceptions seems to give rise to paradoxes: apparently well-founded reasoning to absurd conclusions. This might arise when it comes to vague language (words like 'bald' or 'tall'), or when it comes to the notion of truth. Finally, we look at whether logic, or some other formal representation, manages to capture the principles governing human practical reasoning and decision. Dealing as it does with formal issues in logic, Introduction to Logic or some other first year course with substantial formal content and a component of logic (such as introductory Pure Mathematics or Computer Science courses), are highly recommended. Students without such background may wish to consult the course coordinator as to the suitability of this course for their program of study. This course is offered externally in parallel with the internal mode offering Logic, Truth and Reason. Students will access recorded lectures at a time of their choosing. An asynchronous discussion forum and online quizzes constitute the remaining structured learning activities associated with this course.