Pir Mehr Ali Shah

Arid Agriculture University,

Rawalpindi
University Institute of Management Sciences

Course
MGT 594 – Introduction to Logic
Spring 2020
Code & Title MGT 594 Introduction to Logic Credit Hours: 3(3,
0)
Instructor Engr. Abdul Razzaque
Phone +92 321-5188855

Description
Since its inception in the fourth century B.C. logic has been considered as a branch of philosophy
studying the principles of correct reasoning in various uses of human languages. Under heavy
influence of mathematical procedures the understanding of logic has considerably changed in the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The advances in formalization and computability have made a
significant impact on the character of study of logic as well, now many philosophers view logic as an
independent discipline, very close to mathematics. Frege, Russell and Gödel have played very
important roll in developing the foundations of the modern day logic. With these developments it is
difficult to say whether logic is a branch of mathematics or rather its foundation.
This course is primarily intended to serve as a foundation for the development of logical and critical
thinking. Main focus of the study will be on learning the art of reasoning for a clear and concise
communication. The study will include deduction, induction, informal fallacies, classical logic,
symbolic logic and a brief introduction to formal logic involving its modern applications in computers
and other intelligent machines.
More of the focus will remain on classical logic because it is more intuitive and therefore more
important for everyday as well as business applications rather than the highly technical formal logic.
However, as the importance of the structures defining correct argumentative reasoning is not any
lesser, accordingly, our course will have to become somewhat formal once we move to the analysis of
syllogistic reasoning and other deductive procedures. But overall, we'll confine ourselves to the
analysis of propositions and classes as outlined in classical logic books.
Following are some of the major concepts to be covered in the course:
Concepts, Definitions, Propositions, Uses of Language, Recognizing and Analyzing Arguments, The
Validity of Arguments and Fallacies, Deductive Logic, Categorical Propositions and Categorical
Syllogisms, Rudimentary Propositional Calculus and Truth-functional Arguments and Inductive Logic

Objectives
To get acquainted with the most fundamental concepts and theories about Logic, to recognize the
need of logical reasoning, to learn how to develop logical arguments in real as well as work life, to
develop the ability to apply the concepts learnt in the course in oral and written statements in order to
communicate with clarity and free of ambiguities and finally, to provide intellectual tools for more
rigorous critical assessment of other peoples’ arguments.

Textbook
Title: Introduction to Logic, 12th Edition
Author: Irving Copi & Carl Cohen, Publisher: Prentice Hall (US or Indian edition)

Page 1 of 3
Reference Text
Title: A Concise Introduction to Logic, 8th Edition
Author: Patrick J. Hurley, Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing Company

Grading Policy
Total marks = 60, Minimum of 40% (24 Marks) required for a Pass Grade, all the grades will
be according to the university policies (see the catalogue for details).

Home Assignments, Quizzes and Class Participation 12 Marks

MidTerm Exam 18 Marks
Final Exam 30 Marks

Every student is required to attend at least 75% of the lectures held for the course. Regular attendance
(over & above 75%), submission of work on time and participation in class discussions are included
in the “Class Participation” grade.

Examinations
In addition to frequent weekly or bi-weekly in-class short quizzes there will be two main exams a Mid
Term and a Final. They may consist of multiple choice, case study type, and/or short essay type
questions which can very well be unseen for the students. Final exam will be Comprehensive, Closed
Book and Closed Notes. All the conditions set by the institute/university for eligibility to sit in the
exam must be fulfilled.

Academic Integrity
The institute and the university take an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As
members of the larger academic community, faculty, staff, and students are required to promote an
atmosphere of honesty and to maintain the academic integrity essential to the educational process.
Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the
basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting
themselves in an academically honest manner while working on assignments and quizzes, projects or
taking a written examination.

Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic
dishonesty. In case an instance of dishonesty (whether obtaining or providing help for undue benefit)
is reported, the administration places it before the university Unfair Means Committee for hearing and
recommending penalty according to the university rules and regulations (See the catalogue for
details). The most commonly awarded punishment to any student involved in a proven instance of
Academic Dishonesty (Cheating etc.) is One-Year forced absence from studies.

Important Instructions
(a) Students are expected to do all home works, exercises and assignments on time and as
thoroughly as possible. All the work required to be submitted must be given in Type Written on
A4 Sized Plain Paper.
(b) Although the exams and quizzes will strictly be based on the concepts studied in this course but
may include problems that will not have been solved in the class room. Therefore, the students are
advised to learn the concepts and their applications rather than depend on rote learning of what
we discuss in the class room.
(c) In all the formal work (home works, assignments, quizzes and exams etc.) students must be very
careful about the choice of vocabulary, spellings, grammar, readability of the written matter
and the logical structure. Marks will be deducted for weaknesses and errors in these areas.
Lecture Plan
Each lecture is of approximately 90 minutes duration and there will be two lectures every week.
Lectur Topics to be Covered
e
1 Basic Logical Concepts: Definition of Logic, Propositions and Arguments. Examples &
Exercises.
2 Definitions of Statements, Propositions, Deduction & Induction. Deductive and Inductive
Arguments, Truth and Validity with Examples & Exercises.
3 Analyzing Arguments: Paraphrasing and Diagramming Arguments, Recognizing
Arguments, Difference between Arguments and Explanations.
4 Complex Argumentative Passages and Identification of Problems in Reasoning.
5 Further Complex Argumentative Passages and their Analysis through Diagramming and
Paraphrasing. Identification of Problems in Reasoning. Examples & Exercises.
6 Categorical Propositions: The Theory of Deduction, Classes and Categorical
Propositions. Types of Categorical Propositions. Examples and Exercises.
7 Quality, Quantity, and Distribution in Categorical Propositions. Examples and Exercises.
8 Categorical Propositions (Contd.): The Traditional Square of
Opposition,
Contradictories, Contraries, Subcontraries and Subalternations. Examples and Exercises.
9 Further Immediate Inferences – Conversion, Classes and Class Complements, Obversion
and Contraposition. Examples and Exercises.
10 Existential Import and the Interpretation of Categorical Propositions. Examples and
Exercises.
11 Symbolism and Diagrams for Categorical Propositions (Visual & Symbolic Logic).
Examples and Exercises.
12 Categorical Syllogisms: Standard-Form Categorical Syllogisms, Terms, Mood and
Figure. Examples and Exercises.
13 Formal Syllogistic Argument, Venn Diagram Technique for Testing Syllogisms.
Examples and Exercises.
14 Syllogistic Rules and Fallacies. Examples and Exercises.
15 – 17 --- Mid Term Exams
---
18 Flowcharts for Applying Syllogistic Rules. Examples and Exercises.
19 Ordinary Language Arguments and Exposition of the Valid Forms of the Categorical
Syllogism.
20 Deduction of the Valid Forms of the Categorical Syllogism. Examples and Exercises.
21 The Uses of Language: Basic Functions of Language and Discourse Serving Multiple
Functions. Examples and Exercises.
22 Language Forms and Language Functions
23 Emotive and Neutral Language. Examples and Exercises.
24 Agreement and Disagreement in Attitude and in Belief.
25 Definition: Definitions and their Purposes, Definitions their Types and Uses. Examples
and Exercises.
26 Disputes and Definitions, Definitional Techniques, Extension, Intension and the
Structure of Definitions. Examples and Exercises.
27 Extension and Denotative Definitions, Intension and Intentional Definitions, Rules for
Definition by Genus and Difference. Exercises.
28 Fallacies: What is a Fallacy?, Formal and Informal Fallacies. Examples.
29 The Classification of Fallacies: Fallacies of Relevance, of Defective Induction, of
Presumption and Ambiguity etc. with Examples and Exercises.
30 Further Analysis of Fallacies (Appeal to Emotions, Appeal to Pity, Appeal to Force and
Irrelevant Conclusions etc.). Practice Exercises.
--- Final Exam ---