PHIL 110

This course is an introduction to critical reasoning. Students acquire the tools and concepts needed to analyze and evaluate arguments encountered in everyday life, and in the more technical contexts of their further academic studies. They learn how to recognize arguments by type, and to reconstruct them clearly and fairly in order to assess their rational strength. The sorts of topics covered include the analysis of common fallacies, the resolution of ambiguities, deductive validity and varieties of inductive support, probabilistic reasoning, decision theory, inductive generalization, causal reasoning, and hypothesis confirmation. The course will be of benefit to all students who want to develop their logical skills. Section information text: <strong>Course Description: </strong>This course is an introduction to critical reasoning. Students acquire the tools and concepts needed to analyze and evaluate arguments encountered in everyday life, and in the more technical contexts of their further academic studies. They learn how to recognize arguments by type, and to reconstruct them clearly and fairly in order to assess their rational strength. The sorts of topics covered include the analysis of common fallacies, the resolution of ambiguities, deductive validity and varieties of inductive support, probabilistic reasoning, decision theory, inductive generalization, causal reasoning, and hypothesis confirmation. The course will be of benefit to all students who want to develop their logical skills. <br/><strong>Note: </strong>PHIL 110 is an approved Numeracy course for Cap Core requirements. PHIL 110 is an approved Science and Technology course for Cap Core requirements. PHIL 110 is an approved Quantitative/Analytical course for baccalaureate degrees. PHIL 120 is a natural continuation of this course and is recommended for those who want a thorough introduction to the concepts and principles of rational thought.<br/><strong>Reg Notes: </strong>none<br/><strong>