Formal logic is the science of reasoning and argumentation. It aims to develop systems that can describe and evaluate the internal coherence of a series of thoughts via mathematical structures and algorithms. Historically, formal logic was developed from both philosophical and mathematical interests. Today, developments in formal logic can come from philosophers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and researchers in other cognate disciplines.
This course works with two logical systems: truth-functional logic and first-order logic. Students acquire technical skills in three aspects of these systems: symbolization (representing argumentative thoughts in the formal language); interpretation (using a mathematical structure to interpret the formal language); and deduction (working with algorithms that govern series of expressions in the formal language).
Very roughly, symbolization and interpretation represent philosophers' interests in capturing argumentative thoughts. Very roughly, interpretation and deduction represent mathematicians' and computer scientists' interests in developing decision procedures. In working with the technical skills, students approach the topic of reasoning with questions and methods from philosophy, mathematics, and computer science; and work with materials and assignments from those disciplinary perspectives.