PHL201 Critical Reasoning (8)

Abstract

This subject is an introduction to informal logic and the nature of argument, especially as it relates to real-life settings. It is designed to develop the intellectual virtues of clear thinking and rational decision-making. Students will learn to accurately interpret the many types of arguments they encounter on a day to day basis, from the mundane to exotic. They will learn not only to distinguish good arguments from bad, but also to consistently construct good arguments for themselves. From common sense to abstract reasoning, this subject promises to help each student develop the tools necessary for all other rational pursuits.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 1
Online	Wagga Wagga Campus
Session 2
Online	Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PHL201
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration	Grading System	School:
One session	HD/FL	School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to show that particular arguments are unsound, or have unnoticed or unwanted implications
- be equipped to diagnose fallacies in reasoning and to avoid fallacies in their own writing
- be able to demonstrate some familiarity with the scope and content of modern applied logic

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
- What is an argument? - Pinning down argument structure - When is an argument a good one? - Looking at language - Premises: What to accept and why - Working on relevance - Deductions: categorical logic - An introduction to inductive arguments - Causal inductive arguments - Analogies: Reasoning from case to case

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