PHIL1005 Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning

First Year Course

Offered By

School of Philosophy

Academic Career

Undergraduate

Course Subject

Philosophy

Offered in

Second Semester, 2010 and Second Semester, 2011

Unit Value

6 units

Course Description

This course aims to introduce students to practices of reasoning that are both integral to the discipline of philosophy and tremendously useful in any area of study or of life in which it matters to be able to evaluate arguments, to persuade people through rational means and to test one's own views for coherence. The course aims to demonstrate how reasoning is a vital skill and can be used to further important ends. It comprises two 13 lecture segments, taught sequentially by two faculty members. The first segment comprises an introduction to elementary logic; the second segment analyses a range of paradoxes and responses to them.

Indicative Assessment

In the first 13 lecture segment (elementary logic) there will be compulsory tutorial exercises and one in-class exam (worth 40%). The second 13 lecture segment will have two 1000 word essays (worth 25% each). Assessment will thus comprise one logic exam worth 40%, two short essays worth 25% each. Tutorial participation for the course will count for 10% of assessment.

Workload

Course will be taught by two lectures and one tutorial per week (3 hours per week) at a level appropriate for first years. Tutorials will commence in the second week of the semester. Lecture notes and essay questions will be posted on Wattle.

Areas of Interest

Philosophy

Incompatibility

ARTS 1000 and PHIL1003 (both to be replaced by this course)

Recommended Courses

PHIL 1004: Fundamental questions in Philosophy

Prescribed Texts

Logic readings will be posted on Wattle.

M Clark Paradoxes A to Z (2nd ed) Routledge 2007

Preliminary Reading

Majors/Specialisations

Philosophy

Academic Contact

Dr Brian Garrett and Dr Peter Eldridge-Smith

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.