PHIL 157.001 – Logic and Decision Theory

Instructor: Gerard Rothfus. This course meets MWF 12:20 – 1:10 p.m. SC 209.

This course introduces students to the basics of inductive logic. In order to develop their skills in representing and analyzing arguments, students will first be introduced to the basics of deductive logic. We will then look at inductive arguments and various pitfalls humans often fall into when reasoning inductively. This will lead us to seek out ways we might avoid such pitfalls and, ultimately, to investigate probability theory as a model for how to reason inductively. Classical philosophical problems (e.g., the Problem of Induction, the interpretation of probability, various probabilistic puzzles) will be explored along the way while students are equipped with tools they can use to improve their own critical thinking and probabilistic reasoning in everyday contexts.

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