Symbolic Logic
Argument - a series of statements aimed at proving the truth of an assertion
Divided into premises and conclusions
1.
For confidence in conclusion either
2.
premises are acceptable
a.
premises follow
b.
Fran is a Computer Science major and all computer science majors are
brilliant.
Therefore, Fran is brilliant.
Logical Analysis – doesn’t help determine intrinsic merit of an argument but will
help analyze an arguments form. You will be able to determine whether the truth
of the conclusions follows necessarily from the truth of the premises.
Are the following valid arguments?
If you study hard, you will earn an A. Chloe doesn’t study, so Chloe won’t get
any A’s.
Ed is going to the mall or he is going to work on his Java project. I saw Ed at the
mall. Therefore, he did not work on his Java project.
A glob is a floss or a widget and all widgets are rancid or yellow. Some flosses
are not globs. I received a rancid floss in the mail. That floss could not have
been yellow.
CS610 Lecture 1 p.1