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Logic

Conceptions of logic

  • Logic as a way to evaluate reasoning
  • Logic as a way of looking at language in general

Concpets of Logic

  • Informal logic
  • Formal logic
  • Symbolic logic
  • Mathematical logic

Types of Logic

  • Syllogistic logic
  • Propositional logic
  • Predicate logic
  • Modal logic
  • Informal reasoning and dialectic
  • Mathematical logic
  • Philosophical logic
  • Computational logic
  • Non-classical logic Symbolic Logic
  • Constants - symbols with fixed meaning
  • Variables - symbols with no fixed meaning
    • for variables: x, y, z
    • for statements: p and q

Statements

  • have a subject and predicate
  • composed of atleast one symbol Subject

A subject is a term that a predicate says something about.

  • part of sentence frame
  • topic of a sentence
  • main argument of verb Predicate (denoted by capital alphabets)

A predicate is a term that says something about a subject.

  • part of sentence frame
  • comments on subject
  • verb and all non-subject arguments

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Predicate comes first

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Valency

This is the number of terms that predicate says something about.

Lx,Rx - 1 slots (x), Valency - 1

Sxy - 2 slots (x, y), Valency - 2

Gxyz - 3 slots (x, y, z), Valency - 3

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Quantifiers & Bound Variables

  • quantity: how many?
  • examples from language include singular (1) & plural (1 or more)
  • three logical quantifiers
    • all
    • some (at least 1)
    • none

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image# Logical Operators/Connectives

  • Logical conjuction
  • join symbols with "and" (. & Λ)
  • conjuction with statements p.q
  • conjunction with variables x.y

image- Logical disjunction image

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Logical Equivalence ( = )

Conditional

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Biconditional

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The language of sets & probability

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image- Intersection

  • Union

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Probability

  • probability of A or B, P(A U B)
  • probability of A and B, P(A B)
  • probability of A given B, P(A | B)
  • probability of B given A, P(B | A)

Other Logics

  • Inverse
  • Converse
  • Contrapositive

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Fallacy

A logical fallacy allows an argument to persuade even though the conclusion does not follow the premises.

  • Ad Baculum - I'll hit you unless you accept that A is C. Therefore A is C

This only supports the conclusion I'll hit you, Not that A is C

  • Ad Hominem - John's an idiot and he says that A is not C. Therefore A is C

This only supports the conclusion One idiot doesn't agree. Not that A is C.

  • Ad Verecundiam - Experts agree that A is C. Therefore A is C

This only supports the conclusion Experts agree. Not that A is C.

  • Ad Misericordiam - It will be so tragic if A isn't C. Therefore A is C

This only supports the conclusion It's tragic. Not that A is C.

Logic

  • Arguments (premises, conclusion)
  • Validity
  • Truth values
  • Soundness
  • Basic Syllogism
  • Deduction (deductive reasoning)
  • Induction (inductive reasoning)
  • Cogent argument
  • coherence
  • correspondence
  • foundationalism
  • pragmatic
  • consensus
  • deflationary

References

Logic & Language - a short introduction to logic