PHIL 155H.001 – Honors: Truth and Proof: Introduction to Mathematical Logic

Instructor: John T. Roberts. This course meets MWF 11:15 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. in PE 2066.

Mathematical logic, a.k.a. symbolic logic, is a family of formal systems that were originally developed with the goal of shedding light on the philosophical foundations of mathematics. But it is also used to serve other purposes, including the analysis of philosophical arguments, the study of the structures of languages, and the study of the possibilities for automating different kinds of reasoning processes (and what we now call “computer science” started out as a branch of mathematical logic). In the standard PHIL 155 course, students are introduced to two systems of logic, called “propositional logic” and “first-order predicate logic.” In the Honors version, we will cover those two systems much more quickly, leaving time to move on to other topics. In particular, we will look at some attempts to use symbolic logic to provide a foundation for mathematics, and we will learn the “Incompleteness Theorem” of Godel.

Honors course enrollment and wait list procedures are located here. Please direct all registration questions to Jenn Marshburn (jenn.marshburn@unc.edu), Enrolled Student Services Coordinator for Honors Carolina.