PHBL2 Formal Logic

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 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
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those 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
  • (1) Acquiring the essential notions of FORMAL LOGIC, in particular, (classical) propositional (sentential) logic, see Course Contents for details.
  • (2) Most of the course is an application of (selected parts of) MATHEMATICAL LOGIC on natural language, i.e. on everyday rational reasoning. In computer science, it belongs to knowledge representation and reasoning.
  • (3) Some lectures focus on theory (e.g. syntax/semantics of quantified logic, paradoxes), and some lectures focus on solutions to practical problems (e.g. equivalences/negations of propositions/formulas, arguments checking, natural deduction).
  • (4) The course provides minimal fundaments for the following parts of philosophy: non-classical/philosophical logic, philosophy of language/computing/AI/logic/mathematics etc., formal epistemology, formal ontology, formal ethics.
  • (5) Also, the course provides a specific theoretical background for computer linguistics.
    • Learning outcomes
  • (1) Acquiring the essential notions of formal logic, in particular, (classical) propositional logic, see Course Contents for details.
  • (2) Increasing critical thinking and logical reasoning.
  • (3) Acquiring skills in the representation of knowledge (natural language processing) and reasoning in the sense of AI, computer science, formal semantics, analytic philosophy etc.
  • (4) Exercising analytical and algorithmic thinking, both on natural and formal examples.
  • (5) Acquiring the essential knowledge about logic (from the viewpoint of humanities).
    • Syllabus
    • The course in mostly an introduction to propositional, and partly quantified, logic:
    • (1) Logic as a science of logical consequence. Brief history of logic.
    • (2) Truth-functions.
    • (3) Formal language. Well-formed formulas.
    • (4) Logical laws (tautologies).
    • (5) Equivalences, negations.
    • (6) Truth-conditional (propositional) logical consequence.
    • (7) Axiomatic systems, proofs.
    • (8) Natural deduction.
    • (9) Semantic tableux.
    • (10) Introduction to quantified (predicate) logic. Predicates, quantifiers.
    • (11) Square of opposition. Syllogistics. Validity checking using Venn diagrams.
    • (12) Logical laws and main natural deduction rules of quantified (first-order) logic.
    Literature
      recommended literature
    • RACLAVSKÝ, Jiří. Úvod do logiky: klasická výroková logika ([Introduction to Logic: Classical Propositional Logic). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 238 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7790-4. info
      not specified
    • GORANKO, Valentin. Logic as a tool : a guide to formal logical reasoning. First published. Chichester: Wiley, 2016, xxii, 358. ISBN 9781118880005. info
    • BERGMANN, Merrie, James MOOR and Jack NELSON. The logic book. 6th ed., international ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014, x, 611. ISBN 9781259010606. info
    • HAUSMAN, Alan, Howard KAHANE and Paul TIDMAN. Logic and philosophy : a modern introduction. Twelfth edition, internation. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013, xix, 460. ISBN 9781111841669. info
    • HURLEY, Patrick J. A concise introduction to logic. 11th ed., international ed. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012, xxi, 706. ISBN 9781111185893. info
    • DOXIADĪS, Apostolos and Christos Ch. PAPADIMITRIOU. Logikomiks : hledání absolutní pravdy. Illustrated by Alekos Papadatos. Vyd. 1. Praha: Dokořán, 2012, 335 s. ISBN 9788073634018. info
    Teaching methods
    Classes containing exercises. E-learning with regular homeworks. Numerous study materials: PDF presentations, videos, texts and quizzes.
    Assessment methods
    (1) 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).
    (2) FINAL EXAM. An e-test via computer. The questions are similar to 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.
    (3) BONUS (non-obligatory surplus activity): increasing received e-test mark by 1 degree (e.g. from D to C) for each of (a)-(c) (cumulative increasing is possible). (a) Attendance to classes, (b) activities in classes (answering topic-related questions), (c) answering questions on selected texts (by analytic philosophers) studied at home. For minimum points, see the Czech version above. Points from activities are recorded in IS during the semester.
    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.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Follow-Up Courses
    Study support
    https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/podzim2025/PHBL2/index.qwarp
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught annually.
    The course is taught every week.
    General note: Studentům kombinovaného studijního programu je doporučeno zapsat si současně předmět PHV244 Logika II: otázky a odpovědi.
    Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinovaná forma: 16 hodin/semestr.
    Teacher's information
    http://www.phil.muni.cz/~raclavsky/logika/
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2025, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/PHBL2