PHBL1 Informal Logic

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. BcA. Jiří Raclavský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. BcA. Jiří Raclavský, Ph.D.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 A11, except Mon 21. 4. to Sun 27. 4.
Prerequisites
No special presuppositions.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces INFORMAL LOGIC in the Western sense, covering thus topics such as logical fallacies, theory of definition, biases and bound rationality etc., but even elements of statistical, probabilistic, Bayesian, and scientific reasoning. The course focuses on arguments that are usually invalid from the viewpoint of deductive logic, yet which are cogent from the viewpoint of INDUCTIVE LOGIC.
Learning outcomes
  • informal logic (in western sense)
  • logical reasoning
  • critical thinking
  • analytic thinking
  • elements of statistics, probability/Bayesian theory, decision theory, cognitive biases, argumentation theory
  • evaluation of inductive and deductive arguments
  • information about European culture related to methods of reasoning
    • Syllabus
    • (1) Arguments and (in)formal logic
    • (2) Logical fallacies and argumentation
    • (3) Reasoning and issues with language
    • Workshop I
    • (4) Inductive and statistical reasoning
    • (5) Probabilistic reasoning
    • (6) Bayesian probabilistic reasoning
    • Workshop II
    • (7) Inductive reasoning and scientific method
    • (8) Decision theory
    • (9) Cognitive biases and limited rationality
    • Workshop III
    Literature
      recommended literature
    • Relevantní hesla zejm. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (např. Fallacies, Interpretations of Probability, Logic and Probability, Inductive Logic, Bayes’ Theorem, Decision Theory, Game theory, Scientific method)
    • HURLEY, Patrick J. A concise introduction to logic. 11th ed., international ed. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012, xxi, 706. ISBN 9781111185893. info
      not specified
    • PINKER, Steven. Rationality : what it is, why it seems scarce, why it matters. First published. [London]: Penguin Books, 2022, xv, 412. ISBN 9780141989860. info
    • HAUSMAN, Alan, Frank BOARDMAN and Howard KAHANE. Logic and philosophy : a modern introduction. Thirteenth edition. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2020, xiii, 447. ISBN 9781624669354. info
    • SINNOTT-ARMSTRONG, Walter and Robert J. FOGELIN. Understanding arguments : an introduction to informal logic. Ninth edition. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2015, xvi, 510. ISBN 9781285197364. info
    • CRYAN, Dan, Sharron SHATIL and Bill MAYBLIN. Introducing logic. London: Icon Books Ltd, 2013, 175 stran. ISBN 9781848310124. info
    • PRIEST, Graham. Logic : a very short introduction. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, xii, 140. ISBN 9780192893208. info
    Teaching methods
  • (i) Classes with active participation.
  • (ii) Active discussions, answering questions.
  • (iii) Solving exercises.
  • (iv) E-learning - homeworks.
  • (v) Workshops - preparation for them, presentation of the team work, discussions.
    • Assessment methods
    (1) ACTIVE PARTICIPATION in lectures: in each lesson a number of questions from presentation is answered from selected present students. The minimum number required for completion before exam is shown in interactive syllabi.
    (2) REGULAR HOMEWORKS. Condition required before the exam: During the semester, at least 80 % of regular e-tests (every week 1-2) must be completed (each e-test must receive at least 80 % of points).
    (3) WORKSHOP. Self-study and team cooperation preparing + team presentation of a selected topic for workshop.
    (4) FINAL EXAM. An e-test via computer. The questions are chosen (or adjusted) from those from homeworks. (For few, the exam is not required; they successfully pass if filling the homeworks.) For A mark approx. 80 % of questions must be correctly answered.
    (5) BONUS. Each lecture starts with a short quiz on the topic of the lecture. Those attending the lectures receive extra points from answering the quizzes - the points serve for increasing the mark from the final e-test/exam.
    Náhradní absolvování
    Combined students (students on foreign stay, long-termed ill, ...): contact the teacher for details and agreement, self-study of materials from Interactive syllabi, and filling regular homeworks. Attendance to classes brings surplus points, but the minimum required points can be gathered without attendance from homeworks; workshops.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Follow-Up Courses
    Study support
    https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/jaro2025/PHBL1/index.qwarp
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught annually.
    General note: Pro studenty kombinovaného studijního programu je doporučeno zapsat si současně předmět PHV2451 Logika I: otázky a odpovědi.
    Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinovaná forma: 16 hodin/semestr.
    Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
    Teacher's information
    http://www.phil.muni.cz/~raclavsky/logika/
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Spring 2026.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/PHBL1