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Unit of study_

PHIL2615: Logic and Proof

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

We examine the major ways of proving things in logic: tableaux (trees), axiomatic proofs, natural deduction and sequent calculus. We learn to construct proofs of each of these kinds and then establish fundamental adequacy results (e.g. soundness and completeness) for each kind of proof system.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHIL2615
Academic unit Philosophy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
PHIL2215 or PHIL3215
Prerequisites
? 
PHIL1012
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Nick Smith, nicholas.smith@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Exam
2hr exam
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Weekly exercises
50% Weekly 2500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

• 10 weekly problem sets will be posted on Canvas, at the end of the week's lecture notes.

Answers to each problem set are due not in the tutorial of the week immediately following the week in which the problem set was posted, but in the tutorial after that (so the problem set posted in week 1 is due in your tutorial in week 3, and so on; NB each problem set will include a statement of its due date).

Hand your answers to your tutor in class: you cannot submit them at the SOPHI office, nor via Canvas, nor by emailing them to your tutor.

Please ensure that your answers are neat and tidy, and on A4 paper.

Marked answers will be returned and discussed in the tutorial following the one in which the answers were handed in (when there is such a tutorial; if a problem set is due in week 13 it will not be returned as there are no tutorials after week 13).

• The final examination will be held in the final examination period. The date of the exam is set by the University, not by the Philosophy Department. The University expects students to be available for the entire examination period: the exam could be at any time during the examination period. Students should not plan any travel in the examination period until the final examination timetable has been announced. This applies to all students: overseas students, exchange students and domestic students.
 

Assessment criteria

Each problem set will be marked out of 5 points. Your total marks across the ten problem sets will constitute 50% of your final mark for the unit.

If you fail to submit 4 or more problem sets (i.e. if you only submit 6 or fewer problem sets) you will get a final grade of Absent Fail.

If you do not sit the final examination you will get a final grade of Absent Fail.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

If illness or misadventure prevents you attending a tutorial, contact your tutor within 24 hours of the missed tutorial. If you have documentation that adequately supports your absence, then you will be allowed to submit your answers after the tutorial. In this case your tutor will give a specific time frame for handing in your problem set (depending upon the contents of your documentation). In no case will answers be able to be accepted after the next tutorial, at which the marked problem sets are returned.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Weekly see lecture notes on Canvas for detailed contents Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
see lecture notes on Canvas for detailed contents Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate understanding of the major ways of proving things in logic
  • LO2. construct proofs in these different logical systems
  • LO3. demonstrate understanding of the major metalogical properties of these systems
  • LO4. exhibit advanced disciplinary confidence
  • LO5. demonstrate expertise in logical reasoning

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The content and design of this unit are reviewed each time it is taught, in light of student evaluations, peer review and informal feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know at any time during the semester.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.