PHARMA UNIVERSITY
Collage Health Science
Department of Pharmacy
Course Name: Logic and Critical Thinking Course code: PHIL 1011
Course credit hours: 3
Instractor Name: Abdeta Mamo(Ass. Proff)
I. COURSE DISRIPTION
Everyone thinks, every one reasons, every one argues, and everyone is subjected to the reasoning and
arguments of others. The study of logic is one of the best ways to refine one’s natural ability to reason and
argue. Through the study of logic, one learns strategies for thinking well, common errors in reasoning to
avoid, and effective techniques for evaluating arguments. Logic is a discipline of philosophy which is
basically concerned with the formulation of principles which correct our reasoning processes. The
principles formulated in logic are guiding procedures so as to evaluate argument forms, which are the
fundamentals of the subject matter. So, we conclude that logic is the science that evaluates arguments.
Logic is aimed at designing methods and principles in order to evaluate arguments which can be
conducted by different parts of a given society. The principles of logic enable us to develop our confidence
in critically and rationally evaluating others’ arguments and to construct our own persuasive and logical
forms of speech. The aim of logic is to develop a system of methods and principles that we may use as
criteria for evaluating the arguments of others and as guides in constructing arguments of our own. This
course will cover the nature and importance of learning philosophy, basic concepts of logic and argument,
logic and language, meaning, definition with its purpose and types, basic concepts and characteristics of
critical thinking, types of informal fallacies and categorical prepositions in general. To deliver this course,
student-center approach will be thoroughly implement and there will be continuous and final exam to
assess the course.
Course Objectives
After the successful accomplishment of the course, students will able to:
Understand the basic essence and areas of philosophy, and the necessity of learning it;
Develop the skill to construct and evaluate arguments;
Understand the relationship between logic and language;
Comprehend the types, purposes and techniques of definitions;
Understand the concept, principles, and criteria of critical thinking;
Recognize the various forms of informal fallacies; and
Comprehend the components, attributes and representations of categorical propositions.
Chapter One: Introduction to Philosophy
1.1 Meaning and Nature of Philosophy
1.2 Basic Features of Philosophy
1.3 Core Fields of Philosophy
1.3.1 Metaphysics and Epistemology
1.3.2 Axiology and Logic
1.4 Importance of Learning Philosophy
Chapter two: Basic Concepts of Logic
2.1 Basic Concepts of Logic: Arguments, Premises and Conclusions
2.2 Techniques of Recognizing Arguments
2.2.1 Recognizing Argumentative Passages
2.2.2 Recognizing Non-argumentative Passages
2.3 Types of Arguments: Deduction and Induction
2.3.1 Deductive Arguments
2.3.2 Inductive Arguments
2.3.3 Differentiating Deductive and Inductive Arguments
2.4 Evaluating Arguments
2.4.1 Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Validity, Truth, and Soundness
2.4.2 Evaluating Inductive Arguments: Strength, Truth, and Cogency
Chapter Three: Logic and Language
3.1 Philosophy of Language: An overviews
3.2 What is Philosophy of Language?
3.3 A Brief Note on the Debates and History of Philosophy of Language
3.4 Some Philosophical Approaches to the Nature of Meaningic and Meaning
3.4.1 The Functions of Language: Cognitive and Emotive Meanings
3.4.2 The Intension and Extension of Terms
3.5 Logic and Definition
3.5.1 The Meaning of Definition
3.5.2 The Types and Purposes of Definitions
3.6 Techniques of Definition
3.6.1 The Extensional (Denotative) Definitional Techniques
3.6.2 The Intensional (Connotative) Definitional Techniques
3.7 Criteria for Lexical Definitions
Chapter Four: Basic Concepts of Critical Thinking
4.1 Meaning of Critical Thinking
4.2 Standards of Critical Thinking
4.3 Codes of Intellectual Conduct for Effective Discussion
4.3.1 Principles of Good Argument
4.3.2 Principles of Critical Thinking
4.4 Characteristics of Critical Thinking
4.4.1 Basic Traits of Critical Thinkers
4.4.2 Basic Traits of Uncritical Thinkers
4.5 Barriers to Critical Thinking
4.6 Benefits of Critical Thinking
Chapter Five: Informal Fallacies
5.1 Overview of Fallacy in General
5.2 The Meaning of Fallacy
5.3 Types of Fallacies
5.4.1 Informal fallacies
[Link] Fallacies of Relevance
[Link] Fallacies of Weak Induction
[Link] Fallacies of Presumption
[Link] Fallacies of Ambiguity and Grammatical Analogy
Chapter Six: Categorical Propositions
6.1 General Introduction
6.2 Standard-Forms of Categorical Proposition
6.3 The Components of Categorical Propositions
6.4 Attributes of Categorical Propositions: Quality, Quantity, and Distribution
6.5 Venn Diagrams and the Modern Square of Opposition
6.5.1 Representing Categorical Propositions in Diagrams
6.5.2 Squares of Opposition: Traditional and Modern Squares of Opposition
[Link] The Traditional Square of Opposition
6.6 Evaluating Immediate Inferences: Using Venn Diagrams and Square of Oppositions
6.7 Logical Operations: Conversion, Obversion, and Contraposition
Mode of Teaching
To deliver this course, student-center approach will be thoroughly implement. At least group
discussion, peer discussion, interactive lecture, debate and reflection/presentation will be part and parcel of
delivering this course.
Mode of Assessment
The following are assessment model of this course.
1. Test (10%) 3. Assignment with presentation (10%)
2. Mid-exam 4. Final exam (50%)
(30%) References
Ayer, A. J. (1946) Language, Truth and Logic, 2nd ed.. London: Victor Gollancz.
Bowell, Tracy. and Kemp, Gary, Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide. 2015. Rutledge, USA.
Guttenplan, Samuel: (1991) The Language of Logic. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers
Hurley, Patrick J. (2014) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12th Edition, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Walelign, Emuru, (2009) Freshman Logic, Addis Ababa.
Walton, Douglas. Fundamentals of Critical Argumentation. 2006. Cambridge University, USA.
