2366.16 - Logic and Reasoning in Writing and in Speech


Course number
2366.16
Title
Logic and Reasoning in Writing and in Speech
ECTS
10
Prerequisites
The students must have completed an Upper Secondary education or possess equivalent qualifications.
Purpose
The purpose of the course is to give the participants competence and tools to analyse and evaluate formal and informal argumentation.
Content
We continuously face arguments in writing and speech. Be it in political debates, discussions about ethical questions, or scientific articles of different kinds. But how do we decide whether the arguments are valid? This course teaches classical formal logic as well as elements of informal logic, with special emphasis on identifying logical fallacies. Contemporary logic will also be touched upon. Political debates will be analysed, ethical issues and scientific articles will be discussed, and we will analyse whether the arguments hold or not.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures and exercises.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the students will: • be able to identify logical fallacies; • be able to analyse syllogisms; • understand and be able to analyse modern logic; • independently be able to analyse and evaluate the validity of an argument in writing and in speeach.
Assessment method
Written exam.
Marking scale
P-
Bibliography
Aproximately 800 pages.
Contact
Jens Christian Svabo Justinussen